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Taking over from a club icon was consistently going to be a challenging task, but Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded to pull off a smart strategy after the former coach’s exit: winning his first two matches. Much is overlooked about the opening six months of his tenure, when the team stayed up just one position above the drop zone and endured a period of taking victory in only one time in 10 top-flight matches.

The former boss had accomplished the crucial job of boosting team spirit and gaining the backing of the supporters by defeating Newcastle away and generating enthusiasm by overcoming a major rival at home, and no one was calling for aesthetic football. The home stadium was buzzing in late December 2023, and local supporters were not overly concerned that they witnessed only two more wins there for the remainder of the season.

The club fans call for Postecoglou axe after 23 days following continental defeat.

Ange Postecoglou is still waiting to experience a win, making him the initial Forest head coach in a century to be unable to secure a victory in any of their opening half-dozen fixtures. There was a poisonous atmosphere at the stadium on Thursday night as they lost to the runner-up team in Denmark. When supporters are calling for your dismissal after three weeks, it is reasonable to say things are not going well. On Friday there were no intentions to dismiss the manager but a defeat at St James’ Park on Sunday could end his position.

Everyone at the organization understood there would be a period of change because the new manager’s style of play is virtually a polar opposite to the one his predecessor finely tuned there. The strategy was developing under the former coach but not at the pace the new boss is trying to introduce.

Beginning with four away games was consistently going to be a tough challenge for the manager. Opening at a top side meant generating momentum from the outset was unlikely but losing at a Championship team in the Carabao Cup and tying at Burnley put Postecoglou on the back foot. The match at a Spanish club appeared to be a turning point because the performance was strong and fitting with anticipations regarding Postecoglou’s philosophy. The processes were sound and, but for a late Antony goal, takeoff would have begun.

Instead Forest are still grounded. If Postecoglou could have been excused for the away results, losing at home to Sunderland and Midtjylland was never part of the thinking. There was a degree of explanation in the first home defeat: a generous set-piece decision that led to the winner and poor finishing from Forest meant the points went away to the north-east. Forest had nearly two-thirds of possession and 22 shots but outscoring an rival on xG is meaningless.

Ange Postecoglou and Neco Williams will aim to reverse the team’s results around at Newcastle on Sunday.

There was a hope that once the forwards regained form, everything would be resolved but poor conversion is only a single of the issues confronting Postecoglou. The robust defensive unit built by Nuno has been taken apart, leaving Postecoglou awaiting a clean sheet. Defending set pieces has been an issue, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals coming from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a counterattack, the sort that were a common feature during Postecoglou’s time at his former club.

The coach was keen to return to management promptly after being dismissed by Tottenham, particularly with a Europa League winner’s medal around his neck. He wanted to show critics wrong and Forest offered that chance, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had triumphed in in May. The Hellenic link with Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, facilitated make the hiring smooth and the manager, in spite of his detractors, possesses the credentials required – but practicality was not to be involved.

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The former manager was not sacked for sporting reasons but for picking a dispute with Marinakis that he was not going to prevail in. Ending up in seventh place and taking Forest into continental competition made him extremely popular. In spite of his gripes, a squad able of finishing in the upper section was assembled and plenty of funds was invested. After far too much immediate thinking at Forest, they had a clear long-term vision and strategy, which included a squad that suited the previous boss. Now it seems as if a new figure has entered the home and the children are not happy.

Visits to one opponent and Bournemouth bookend the home game of Chelsea in the next three Premier League games, suggesting life is only going to get more difficult. Marinakis made the appointment with his emotions and is desperately hoping to prevent another dismissal because firing Postecoglou would be an admission that he made a pair of terrible decisions in dismissing Nuno and selecting the successor. Football is one big public approval contest and Nuno began winning his at the away ground. Postecoglou needs to emulate that or he faces the possibility of forfeiting his permanently.