NOTTINGHAM FOREST struck a significant blow in their unlikely bid to qualify for the Champions League as they ended Brentford’s unbeaten Premier League home record with a 2-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.

It was a third victory in a row for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, whose credentials for a possible top-four finish are growing harder to ignore, and the confident, assured manner in which they dealt with Brentford — previously untouchable on this ground — only reinforced that sentiment.

Ola Aina swept home late in the first half to hand Forest the lead after they had survived some nervous wobbles in defence.

World-famous model Claudia Schiffer was in attendance in west London and she witnessed more ghastly defending in the second half when Keane Lewis-Potter presented the ball to Anthony Elanga, who finished unerringly for 2-0.

Brentford had seven home wins from eight and did not give up their proud record lightly. There might have been a tighter finish to things had Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels not produced one of the saves of the season to keep out Kristoffer Ajer midway through the second half, but despite the Bees’ busy industry to try and salvage a point, Forest’s greater quality told.

The hosts had actually made the brighter start. Bryan Mbeumo scooped a ball in behind Forest for Yoane Wissa, who raced onto it and cut back for Mikkel Damsgaard to shoot, his effort palmed behind by Sels. Mbeumo was the creator again minutes later with a high back-post cross that was headed just wide by Ajer.

Forest created chaos in their box when Murillo missed his kick and Morato skewed the resulting clearance straight up in the air. As it dropped, the defender failed to effectively challenge Wissa, who manoeuvred his way onto the ball and volleyed over.

Mark Flekken produced a fabulous one-handed save to deny Chris Wood, though the Forest striker ought to have aimed his free header further from the goalkeeper’s reach.

Forest took the lead seven minutes before half-time. Callum Hudson-Odoi cruised into space in front of the defence and slipped the ball wide to Neco Williams. He stood up Ajer before pulling a driven cross back towards Wood, who swung at fresh air – but arriving in his wake was Aina to sweep it into the bottom corner.

Brentford had trailed three times at home this season and each time had come back to win. Forest meanwhile were looking to become the first side to leave the Gtech Stadium with a clean sheet, knowing that third place in the table – for a few hours at least – beckoned if they could hold on.

Six minutes into the second half, Brentford’s unbeaten home record fell under more serious threat. Lewis-Potter’s control was poor as he took down a high Forest ball over the top, and there to steal it from him was Elanga, who cut in-field before sending a cool finish bending low beyond the reach of Flekken.

Sels denied Ajer with an outstanding save as the defender volleyed at goal from Mbeumo’s header, a remarkable piece of reflex goalkeeping to preserve Forest’s two-goal lead as their European dreams drew into sharper focus.

Elsewhere, a hat-trick from Alexander Isak helped Newcastle follow up a midweek Carabao Cup success with a 4-0 thrashing at Ipswich to give their supporters the perfect week before Christmas.

The Magpies entered this fixture after they secured a place in the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Brentford to remain on track for a first major trophy since 1969.

Any concerns this could be a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show evaporated within 26 seconds when Isak fired home his first after a lengthy VAR check.

Ex-Norwich attacker Jacob Murphy set up the opener and was a constant threat against the rivals of his old club as he grabbed Newcastle’s second before his backheel allowed Isak to complete a 54-minute treble after he also struck at the end of the first half following more woeful Ipswich defending.

It ensured Eddie Howe masterminded a third consecutive victory, while Kieran McKenna’s side are left to lick their wounds on a day to forget.

Finally, in the other 3pm kickoff, Mohammed Kudus earned West Ham a point against bogey side Brighton in a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.

The Ghana winger headed his third of the season, and his first since completing a five-match ban for his red card at Tottenham in October, to cancel out Mats Wieffer’s maiden goal for Brighton.

The Seagulls came closest to grabbing a winner but were unable to prevent their run without a victory stretching to five matches.

However, they did maintain their record of not losing at the London Stadium in all eight of their Premier League visits.