Nottingham Forest ended Brentford's unbeaten home run with a deserved 2-0 win in west London to spend Christmas in the top four of the Premier League.
Forest recovered from a slow start at the Gtech to burst Brentford's unbeaten bubble with goals in either half from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga.
The leggy Bees, playing their third match in less than six days, soon ran out of steam after flying out of the blocks, with little response to Forest's fast-moving forward play, and should have been behind by the time Aina struck.
Chris Wood was denied by an excellent save from Mark Flokken, when he should not have given the goalkeeper a chance from a six-yard header if he had placed it better.
He and Forest didn't have to wait long to make amends as six minutes later Forest's full-back was allowed to travel 40 yards unmarked to turn Neco Williams' low cross back into the far corner.
It was game over five minutes into the second period when Elanga Keane robbed Lewis-Potter after a heavy touch, before turning in Ben Mee and finding an equally well-placed finish to beat Fleks.
The Bees had little response to avoid a first home defeat since the final day of last season, but did come close to Kristoffer Ajer, whose powerful rising drive hit Matz Sels in the face on its way over the bar.
But Forest, who already boast the Premier League's third-best defensive record, showed why they will spend Christmas ahead of Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle and the rest as they cruised to their fifth away win of the season – as much as in both clubs. their previous seasons since promotion.
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