Arjun Menon
Dyche savours return as Forest secure Europa League win
Sean Dyche stood on the touchline, looked around the City Ground and let the moment sink in as fans belted out Mull of Kintyre. The song has been a Nottingham Forest anthem since 1978 and, on his first night in charge, Dyche appeared to take pleasure from the cauldron of noise he faced.
The new manager, Forest’s third this season, saw penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus settle the tie and give the club a first win since their Premier League opener. It was also Forest’s first clean sheet in 21 matches, their last coming in April in a 1-0 win over Manchester United.
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Dyche, who left Forest as a young professional in 1987 before a long playing and managerial career elsewhere, admitted the return meant a lot.
“I’d waited a long time for that moment. As a young person here in ’87 all I wanted to do was wear the shirt,”
“To come back as the manager is super pleasing and to stand there and absorb it, I’ve learnt in life sometimes you have to slow your thinking down and take it in.”
Chris Wood was absent with a knee problem, denying Dyche one of his most potent options. Jesus came on for Taiwo Awoniyi, dropped deep to pull Porto out of position and converted from the spot to seal the victory — his third goal in the Europa League.
Tactically Dyche shifted to a back four. Centre-backs Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic looked more comfortable, protected by a midfield of Elliot Anderson and Douglas Luiz. Anderson’s energy allowed Gibbs-White more freedom going forward while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye provided width, though their final balls were mixed.
Several summer signings did not feature. Around £120m spent on the likes of James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, Dilane Bakwa and Arnaud Kalimuendo meant a big squad reshuffle — McAtee and Kalimuendo were named on the bench, Hutchinson (the club’s £37.5m record signing) was left out of the European squad and Bakwa was sidelined by injury.
There were clear contrasts with the previous coaching regimes. After spell under Ange Postecoglou and a brief switch to a more pragmatic approach under Nuno Espírito Santo, Dyche’s side showed a sharper edge, more fight and greater organisation — traits Forest supporters felt had been missing.
“I can finally breathe tonight. It has been a difficult couple of months with all the changes and the bad performances, so it was good to get our first win in eight or nine games,”
Gibbs-White told TNT Sports. “We are delighted to get the three points and I want to thank the fans for sticking by us.”
Supporters returned in force. They roared as the team defended a disallowed Porto leveller, fireworks went off outside the ground after the final whistle and fans sang “Forest are back.” Dyche has built a backroom team rich in club connections — coaches Ian Woan and Steve Stone were part of the side that won Forest’s last European tie at the City Ground, a 1-0 victory over Lyon in 1995 — and that local link helped warm the reception.
“When you are on the side you don’t hear every word, you hear a noise and you know if it’s a positive noise or a negative noise,”
Dyche said. “I’m not here to judge or question anything, just deliver what I can to the job. It’s nice when they support you from the off, winning helps.”
The win provided an immediate boost and a connection with supporters that Dyche will want to build on quickly. For now the City Ground savoured a rare European victory and a clearer sense of direction under its new manager.