Three days in the job, two training sessions and, most significantly, one victory. Sean Dyche succeeded where Ange Postecoglou had failed so miserably, winning at the first time of asking to get Nottingham Forest’s Europa League campaign truly up and running. “Forest are back,” rejoiced the home support, who chanted the name of their third head coach of the season en route to handing Porto their first defeat of the season. Cue the victory-lap fireworks dazzling above Trent Bridge.
Perhaps most remarkably, this was also Forest’s first clean sheet since April. It all must have made pretty satisfying viewing for the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, applauding the goals from his seat in the directors’ box and last seen scarpering from the stadium midway through Postecoglou’s final game. Even the VAR gods were on Dyche’s side, both Forest goals stemming from interventions, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus scoring a penalty in each half.
“The A Block is still the A Block,” Dyche said of the hardcore fans in the Main Stand, “if they back you, that’s always a good thing.” For Dyche, this is a job that, as he put it, rounds the circle after he began his career here as an apprentice under Brian Clough, whom the stand opposite the dugouts is named after. By the end Dyche was able to drink in the occasion. “I’ve waited a long time for that moment,” he said. “I wanted to stand there and absorb it. I’ve learnt in life that sometimes you have to slow your thinking down and take it in and put it in the memory.”
The last time Forest won a game in European competition, against Lyon in the Uefa Cup in November 1995, Dyche’s longstanding assistants Ian Woan and Steve Stone were on the pitch. As Mull of Kintyre reverberated around the stadium before kick-off, a renewed optimism was detectable. At full time Rockin’ All Over The World blared over the speakers for the first time in a couple of months. Fans singing Dyche’s name seemed pertinent given the struggles faced by his predecessor. “It is nice when they support you from the off,” he said. “If they can accept me and my staff, that’s got to be a bonus and hopefully it will fast-track the feeling around the ground.”
Dyche, in a blue club tracksuit, cut an animated figure on the touchline but, save for a glance at the watch, was unmoved when Forest seized the lead through Gibbs-White; the spot-kick was awarded after Jan Bednarek, previously of Southampton, was penalised for handling a cross towards Igor Jesus, one of three changes from Postecoglou’s final game. Gibbs-White took a couple of deep breaths and sent Diogo Costa, the penalty specialist wearing No 99 in the Porto goal, the wrong way. Marinakis applauded in the stands and the locals savoured the liftoff of another new era.
Forest’s penalty was the first time Porto, unbeaten before arriving at the City Ground, had trailed all season. Francesco Farioli’s side oozed confidence from the first whistle, every outfield player but centre-back Jakub Kiwior lining up on halfway for kick-off. Forest, too, began on the front foot, Elliot Anderson blasting over inside a minute and Gibbs-White hunting down the ball. Gibbs-White’s post-match comments were telling. “I feel like I can finally breathe,” he said.
Forest largely contained a free-scoring Porto side who had conceded just twice all season prior this trip. The only disappointment was the premature departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko who was forced off with a groin problem on the verge of half-time, Nicolò Savona arriving in his place. During the interval Forest paid tribute to Harley Pearce, son of club legend Stuart, who died in a tractor crash last week.
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Forest have leaked goals from set pieces (only West Ham have conceded more from them in the Premier League) and six minutes into the second half Bednarek thought he fashioned an equaliser after another short corner – until the video assistant referee flagged Samu Aghehowa offside.
Porto probed for an equaliser but just as they were beginning to shake Forest, the hosts doubled their advantage. Savona was initially booked for diving under pressure from Martim Fernandes but then the Romanian referee, Radu Petrescu, headed to the VAR monitor for a second look and he overturned his decision. Gibbs-White handed Igor Jesus the honours, the Brazil striker wellying the ball down the middle of goal.
Every Forest player, except Matz Sels, joined the celebrations. Just like that, the mood has completely shifted. “I told the lads: ‘It is a start and there is a whole lot more work to go,’” Dyche said. “We can’t think that’s all the questions answered.”
