Nottingham Forest 0-3 Brentford: Dean Smith and Paul Williams react

Dean Smith believes the character of his Brentford side shone through as they claimed a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Second-half goals from Lasse Vibe, Nico Yennaris and Sergi Canos helped the Bees clinch only their third win of 2016 - and put a nine-point gap between themselves and the bottom three.

Brentford had been nervously looking over their shoulders following four consecutive Sky Bet Championship defeats, but Smith felt the determination of his players was the key against a Nottingham Forest side who are struggling to end a poor run of their own.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

"Every win is a big win and our previous performances had merited far more than we had got," said Smith. "I thought it was a deserved win. We were defensively organised and allowed them very few chances - and Forest got very frustrated because of that.

"We capitalised on their indecision at the back, we got the first goal and that gave us renewed confidence after that. Having said that, they then had a four versus one break on us when they might have scored, but Alan Judge raced the length of the pitch to get back and stop it.

"It just shows the character in the players we have got. We have been on a bad run and they want to put that right. That was the kind of character we were always going to need."

Smith felt that the game had been closer than the scoreline suggested, adding: "The game had been so tight up to the first goal and this shows what fine margins there are in football.

"We have capitalised on a mistake from them, through Lasse Vibe. We then went on to win the game and it ended up looking more comfortable than it was. But the difference was that we took our opportunities."

Forest head coach Paul Williams had a different point of view - and offered an apology for their display.

"I am really disappointed with the performance and the reaction to the fans to that performance is entirely valid," said Williams, whose side finished with 10 men following the dismissal of Eric Lichaj in the 77th minute.

"It is my job to get them ready for Tuesday, for our next game, at Reading.

"We did not put them under pressure. We did not get in their faces. I would not say I feel let down. They are human beings like everyone else. But we do have to dust ourselves down and produce better on Tuesday night.

"I will be looking for a reaction from this side, because that is the least the fans deserve. Can I explain it? Not really. We were second best from minute one. I thought Brentford were here for the taking and we had told the players that.

"I really do apologise to the fans for that performance. I will have a look at our preparation and see if it was too much and we will look at how we prepare for the next game now."