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Taking over from a team hero was always going to be a challenging assignment, but Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded to achieve a shrewd strategy after Steve Cooper’s exit: securing victories in his initial pair of fixtures. Much is forgotten about the first six months of his tenure, when the team stayed up just one position above the drop zone and went through a stretch of taking victory in only one time in 10 top-flight games.

The former boss had done the vital task of boosting team spirit and gaining the backing of the supporters by defeating Newcastle away and generating enthusiasm by beating a major rival at their own ground, and nobody was calling for style points. The home stadium was buzzing in the end of 2023, and home fans did not mind that they witnessed only two more wins there for the remainder of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest fans call for Postecoglou dismissal after 23 days following continental loss.

Ange Postecoglou is yet to experience success, making him the first Forest head coach in a hundred years to fail to secure a victory in any of their first six games. There was a toxic mood at the stadium on Thursday night as they lost to the second-best team in Denmark. When fans are calling for your sacking after 23 days, it is reasonable to say the situation are not going well. On Friday there were no intentions to fire Postecoglou but a loss at Newcastle on Sunday could cost him his job.

All those at the club understood there would be a period of change because the new manager’s tactical approach is virtually a complete contrast to the one his predecessor carefully developed there. The strategy was evolving under the Portuguese but not at the speed the new boss is attempting to implement.

Starting with a series of road matches was always going to be a tough ask for Postecoglou. Opening at a top side meant building positive energy from the outset was improbable but suffering a defeat at a Championship team in the Carabao Cup and drawing at Burnley put Postecoglou on the back foot. The match at Real Betis appeared to be a positive shift because the performance was impressive and fitting with expectations regarding Postecoglou’s style. The processes were sound and, if not for a last-minute opposing player goal, takeoff would have commenced.

However Forest are still stuck. If the coach could have been forgiven for the performances on the road, falling at their stadium to a visiting team and a European side was never part of the plan. There was a degree of explanation in the initial home loss: a soft set-piece decision that resulted in the decisive goal and appalling shooting from Forest meant the result went away to the north-east. Forest had almost two-thirds of the ball and multiple attempts but outscoring an opponent on xG is irrelevant.

Ange Postecoglou and Neco Williams will want to reverse Nottingham Forest’s results around at Newcastle on Sunday.

There was a belief that when the forwards regained form, everything would be resolved but poor conversion is only a single of the problems facing Postecoglou. The robust backline built by Nuno has been dismantled, leaving Postecoglou still waiting for a shutout. Stopping dead-ball situations has been problematic, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals originating from them, and the remaining goal Forest let in was from a counterattack, the type that were a common feature during his time at his former club.

The coach was eager to return to work promptly after being sacked by Tottenham, especially with a Europa League honor around his neck. He wanted to prove people wrong and Forest offered that chance, with the extra incentive of being in the competition he had triumphed in in May. The Greek link with Forest’s proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, helped make the appointment straightforward and the manager, despite his detractors, possesses the credentials necessary – but practicality was unlikely to be involved.

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Nuno was never sacked for football causes but for picking a dispute with the owner that he was never going to prevail in. Finishing seventh and guiding Forest into continental competition made him incredibly beloved. In spite of his complaints, a team capable of ending in the top half was assembled and a lot of funds was invested. After excessive immediate thinking at Forest, they had a clear future plan and approach, which featured a team that suited Nuno. Now it seems as if a new figure has entered the home and the residents are not happy.

Trips to Newcastle and Bournemouth bookend the visit of Chelsea in the upcoming trio of league fixtures, suggesting life is only going to get more difficult. The owner made the selection with his heart and is urgently wishing to avoid another dismissal because firing the manager would be an admission that he made a pair of terrible choices in dismissing the former coach and selecting the replacement. Football is one big public approval competition and the ex-boss started winning his at the away ground. Postecoglou needs to emulate that or he risks forfeiting his for good.