Initial optimism has faded after arrival of former Burnley manager, who needs to get more from a struggling squad
T
here was plenty for Sean Dyche to stew on as he marched off the pitch at Estádio Municipal de Braga with the frustrations of the Nottingham Forest supporters ringing in his ears. The boos were not universal, but fans who follow the team over land and sea are usually a decent barometer of the prevailing feeling. By the end of a sodden, joyless night in northern Portugal, it felt like false advertising, possibly one for trading standards. It wasn’t supposed to be like this?
Dyche cannot be blamed for the dismal conditions but he and the players can be for a listless performance. Beyond a likely Europa League playoff, which will mean another away day to squeeze into the schedule, fans are seemingly concerned where this is all going. Forest were devoid of sharp edges and not only in attack where the absence of a bona fide striker was painfully apparent. It was a miserable night encapsulated by second-half events: Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty miss, a Ryan Yates own goal 54 seconds later, Dan Ndoye being booked for simulation and Elliot Anderson being sent off.
Forest became the second team in Europa League history to lose without facing a shot on target. They were lethargic and struggled to change gear. The overriding noise at full-time was telling, a stark reminder that the initial optimism and goodwill that followed the appointment of Dyche and his quartet of coaching staff, all of whom had previously represented Forest, has faded. There were shades of the anger that followed Forest’s abysmal showing at home to Midtjylland, Ange Postecoglou’s penultimate match before being sacked 40 days into the job.
