Ange Postecoglou was only appointed as Forest managers on September 9 but has failed to win a single match in his eight games in charge in all competitions. AFP
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard (right) celebrates with William Saliba after scoring against Fulham at Craven Cottage in London. REUTERS
Ange Postecoglou’s reign as Nottingham Forest manager was ended after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday as Arsenal remained on top thanks to Leandro Trossard’s winner at Fulham.Postecoglou was sacked after just eight games and 40 days in charge at the City Ground, making his the shortest ever managerial stint in Premier League history. Forest picked up just one point from the Australian’s five league games and were also dumped out of the League Cup by second-tier Swansea.Club owner Evangelos Marinakis left his seat during the match as Chelsea took control in the second half and Postecoglou’s fate was confirmed shortly after full-time. Forest are already looking for their third manager of the season after Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed last month.“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect,” the club posted on X. “The club will make no further comment at this time.”Forest finished seventh in the Premier League last season under Nuno, having looked likely for a long spell to seal a Champions League spot. Fulham manager Marco Silva has been linked with the job at the two-time European champions while former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche is also reportedly a candidate.Postecoglou, sacked by Tottenham in June, was defiant at his pre-match press conference on Friday, saying if he is given time at a club it always ends “with me and a trophy”. Last season he won the Europa League with Tottenham, in his second season in charge, though a terrible league campaign cost him his job.Former England captain Alan Shearer believes Marinakis must take his share of the blame for Postecoglou’s demise. “Ultimately the results haven’t been good enough and that is on Ange. But the owner has to take some responsibility too. He chose Ange, it was his appointment,” Shearer told BBC Sport. “How can you go from a manager in Nuno with one style of play to someone like Ange who everyone knows wants his teams to play in a completely different way?”Chelsea had to survive an early onslaught before two goals in three minutes early in the second period swung the game in the Blues’ favour. Teenager Josh Acheampong headed in his first senior goal from Pedro Neto’s corner. Neto curled in a free-kick to double Chelsea’s lead before Reece James added a third late on to lift the visitors up to sixth in the table. Defeat saw Forest fall into the relegation zone.Arsenal retook top spot from Manchester City thanks to another set-piece goal to edge out Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage. Trossard flicked in from a corner just before the hour mark and the Gunners’ rock solid defence did the rest with an eighth clean sheet in all competitions already this season. “It was a tough game for us, especially first half the quality on our side wasn’t there,” said Trossard. “We picked it up in the second half.”Arsenal were installed as the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Premier League after Liverpool’s two successive defeats knocked the champions out of pole position. “It is a really tough place to come. We have experienced that in the last few years. We put a lot into it. We had some giveaways in the first half, but we became more dominant throughout the game,” Arteta said. “They have been together for many years, so they know how to adapt.”Arsenal have won six of their eight league matches this season as they chase a first English title since 2004.City remain three points behind the leaders but moved up to second thanks to another double from Erling Haaland to beat Everton 2-0. After two defeats in their opening three Premier League matches, Pep Guardiola’s men are now unbeaten in eight games in all competitions. Haaland proved the match-winner once more with two clinical finishes in five minutes either side of the hour at the Etihad.He used all of his 1.95-metre (6ft 5in) frame to power in a header from Nico O’Riley’s cross to break the deadlock. Haaland then had a helping hand from Jordan Pickford for his second as the England goalkeeper failed to keep out a low shot to his left.Bournemouth missed out on going top for a few hours after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 97th-minute penalty to complete his hat-trick salvaged a 3-3 draw for Crystal Palace. Two goals from Eli Junior Kroupi put the Cherries 2-0 up at Selhurst Park at half-time.Palace lost for the first time in 20 matches in their last outing at Everton. The Eagles avoided another defeat thanks to the in-form Mateta, who was fresh from scoring his first international goal for France. Mateta struck twice to level before Ryan Christie turned in Marcus Tavernier’s cross in the 89th minute to restore Bournemouth’s lead.However, Andoni Iraola’s men were denied another huge win when Mateta stroked home from the spot after want-away Palace captain Marc Guehi was fouled inside the box.Newcastle’s struggles on the road continued with a 2-1 defeat at Brighton as Danny Welbeck struck twice.
The Magpies have yet to win away in the Premier League this season and slipped to 12th, behind local rivals Sunderland. The Black Cats climbed up to seventh with a 2-0 victory over Wolves, which left the visitors five points off safety at the bottom of the table. Burnley climbed out of the bottom three thanks to goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna to beat Leeds 2-0.
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