For Nottingham Forest followers, life beneath new head coach Ange Postecoglou is creating into a well-known sample – dominate video games, create a lot of possibilities however finally fail to get the win.
That sample has resulted in Postecoglou enduring a dreadful run since his appointment on 9 September, with Saturday’s loss to Sunderland in his first house recreation in cost their fifth recreation with no victory.
Commercial
It’s removed from best for the Australian, significantly as even he recognised that his appointment was hardly “love at first sight” as far many Forest followers had been involved.
These supporters who questioned the choice to switch Nuno Espirito Santo with Postecoglou won’t have had their fears allayed by Forest solely taking one level from video games in opposition to two newly promoted groups – a 1-1 draw at Burnley on 20 September.
To underline their objective points, Forest’s two matches in opposition to Burnley and Sunderland introduced a mixed whole of 39 efforts, however they solely scored as soon as.
“We’re simply not ruthless sufficient turning the dominance now we have into wins,” Postecoglou mentioned after the Sunderland loss.
Commercial
“From our perspective, that is for me to kind. The gamers have the suitable mindset and clear heads. Lots has occurred during the last three and a half weeks.
“I’ve been stressing we won’t dwell on no matter modifications we’re making and to be truthful the gamers are embracing it.
“It’s as much as me to show dominance into wins.”
Simply how involved ought to Forest followers be?
Forest’s poor kind stretches again earlier than Postecoglou’s appointment:
They’ve misplaced 5 of their previous seven house Premier League video games (W1 D1), as many as their earlier 22 house matches within the competitors (W11 D6 L5).
Forest have additionally conceded the opening objective in 10 of their previous 14 Premier League video games, having accomplished so solely six occasions of their prior 31 matches within the competitors. Of these 10 video games, Forest gained none (D3 L7).
Their 64.9% share of possession in opposition to Sunderland was their highest within the Premier League since their return to the division in 2022-23, although of the 26 situations in that point they’ve had greater than 50% possession, they’ve solely gained 4 occasions (D12 L10).
Their lack of targets is proving the primary challenge, and Postecoglou added: “We’ve got the muse to win video games of soccer however we’re not and we have to change that.
Commercial
“Followers have gotten each proper to be dissatisfied. They need to see their staff win. I perceive their disappointment, definitely shared by us within the dressing room and by me, and my job is to rectify that.”
‘I am certain they will kick on’ – will Postecoglou flip issues round?
The statistics would seem to counsel Postecoglou has already made Nottingham Forest extra attack-minded than they had been beneath Nuno.
Within the Portuguese coach’s three Premier League video games in command of Forest this season earlier than he was sacked, his facet had 31 makes an attempt on objective, whereas in Postecoglou’s three league fixtures thus far – which incorporates an away recreation in opposition to Arsenal – they’ve had 44 makes an attempt.
Commercial
They secret is turning these efforts into targets, and for a few of those that have watched Forest beneath Postecoglou, there’s a perception that can come.
“Forest had loads of possibilities,” former Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid mentioned on Sky Sports activities after the Sunderland loss.
Reid took encouragement from Saturday’s match, and their show in Wednesday’s 2-2 Europa League draw away to Actual Betis.
“It is a disappointing night time for Forest supporters, gamers and supervisor however I’ve seen sufficient to see that they will be OK,” he mentioned.
“After all, it is disappointing however I am seeing sufficient from that recreation and the opposite video games – they had been sensible in opposition to Betis at occasions – that after issues click on into place, I am certain they will kick on.”
Commercial
Forest striker Chris Wooden, who scored 20 Premier League targets final season, added: “We have to take these possibilities. In the end you pay a value in video games that try to be profitable comfortably.
“The fact of it’s we do not actually have the luxurious of time to analyse it. The change has been made, the soccer has progressed, that’s getting us the muse to win video games however we’re not and we have to change that.”
‘By no means seen a referee give a free-kick for that earlier than’
Popping out of the Metropolis Floor on Saturday, together with frustration at a second-successive house loss, supporters additionally grumbled on the determination to award Sunderland the free-kick that led to the objective.
Commercial
It was a contentious determination, as Nicolas Dominguez was penalised for simulation after he had cleared the ball simply outdoors his space earlier than seemingly being caught by Trai Hume, making an attempt to dam.
Dominguez was booked – and from Granit Xhaka’s free-kick, Omar Alderete scored.
The Forest gamers had been incensed by the choice, and defender Neco Williams mentioned: “We should always have defended it higher however on the similar time I’ve by no means seen a referee give a kind of free-kicks earlier than in all my time of enjoying soccer.
“There was contact, so he obtained it flawed – and for the objective, I used to be held again. He had two arms spherical my waist and that performed a key issue of their objective.
Commercial
“It’s two poor choices, particularly by the referee, after which the individuals on VAR.”
Postecoglou added: “It was an entire vary of choices from the officers, each from awarding it and a few holding within the field.
“However I nonetheless suppose we had been nonetheless too lax in our willpower to maintain the ball out of the web.”