Latest Nottingham Forest verdict as Reds beat Porto 2-0 in Europa League clash at the City Ground
22:05, 23 Oct 2025Updated 22:16, 23 Oct 2025
Sarah Clapson is Nottingham Forest correspondent for NottinghamshireLive and the Nottingham Post. She has covered the Reds since 2015, having joined the Post the previous year. Being involved in the coverage of everything from Evangelos Marinakis’ takeover of the club to Forest winning promotion at Wembley, she has followed the team up and down the country, as well as abroad, to report on the latest goings-on.
Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot with teammates during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Nottingham Forest FC and FC Porto at City Ground
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Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest celebrates scoring his team's first goal from the penalty spot with teammates during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Nottingham Forest FC and FC Porto at City Ground
Sean Dyche made a winning start to life as Nottingham Forest head coach as he oversaw a 2-0 Europa League win over Porto at the City Ground.
Penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus made the difference for the Reds. It was only their second victory of the season and earned them three important points in their bid to reach the knockout stages of the competition.
After the end of an error, a special European night under the lights Trentside had all the ingredients of being a fresh start for Forest. In the space of just a few days since his appointment on Tuesday, Dyche had transformed the mood at the club.
A cloud had been hanging over the City Ground as a result of Ange Postecoglou’s miserable 39-day reign. No wins and a manager who had struggled to connect with the fanbase made for the kind of tenure Forest would love to erase from memory.
Failing that, an injection of positivity from Dyche counted as the next best thing. He said all the right things in his first interviews and there was an energy evident on the training pitch ahead of the meeting with Porto.
When the Reds hosted FC Midtjylland earlier this month, it was supposed to be a night for the ages as European football returned to the banks of the Trent for the first time in almost 30 years. Instead, it turned into an evening to forget as the Danish underdogs triumphed and the crowd turned on Postecoglou.
Here then, was something of an opportunity for Forest to start over. They showed their intent right from the off with an early effort from Elliot Anderson and a couple of chances for Callum Hudson-Odoi.
It certainly got the crowd going, and then came the breakthrough. Jan Bednarak was judged to have handled when he challenged Jesus for the ball, giving the Reds an opportunity to take the lead.
It was one Gibbs-White did not pass up, with the skipper coolly slotting home from the spot in the 19th minute. Owner Evangelos Marinakis approved; he could be seen applauding from his seat in the stands.
Porto looked dangerous, though, and enjoyed plenty of possession. Matz Sels was called into action to deny Alan Varela at bay as half-time neared.
An injury to Oleksandr Zinchenko forced Forest into a change soon after as they made it to the break with their advantage intact. Porto thought they had levelled five minutes after the turnaround when Bednarak hammered in following a corner, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
Hudson-Odoi had a golden opportunity to give the Reds the cushion they needed with 20 minutes to go but was thwarted by a Bednarak block. Still, another chance came Forest’s way five minutes later in the form of another penalty, this time for a foul by Martim Fernandes on Nicolo Savona.
Gibbs-White passed the ball to Jesus for this one, but the outcome was the same as the Brazilian made it 2-0 to seal the three points for Dyche’s men. Here’s how Reds reporter Sarah Clapson rated the Forest players at the City Ground.
Matz Sels: Wasn’t overly tested, although did make a strong save in the first half. Will have breathed a sigh of relief when Porto had their goal ruled out and will take huge confidence from a first clean-sheet since April. Rating: 7/10
Neco Williams: Versatility of being able to operate on both sides proved useful once again as he switched from right to left following Zinchenko’s injury. Full of effort, energy and endeavour - as usual. Superb. Rating: 8.5/10
Nikola Milenkovic: Plenty of no-nonsense defending evident, with Dyche clearly keen for the Reds to get back to basics. There will surely be no complaints from the Serbian on that front. Rating: 8/10
Murillo: Got back to doing what he does best - some brilliant defending and some lovely touches of the ball. Geed up the crowd, too, as the City Ground enjoyed a memorable European night under the lights. Rating: 8/10
Oleksandr Zinchenko: Indicated he was struggling with some sort of injury shortly before half-time and was unable to make it through to the break. Looked upset to be coming off as he made way for Nicolo Savona. Rating: 6.5/10
Dan Ndoye: A positive showing as he got forward plenty. Just lacking a little with his end product as some good moments came to nothing. Improving the winger’s crossing will be something for Dyche to work on. Rating: 7/10
Douglas Luiz: Regardless of who the manager is, Forest look a better side when the midfielder plays. If he can stay fit, he can make a big difference as attention now turns to climbing the Premier League table. Rating: 8/10
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Elliot Anderson: Got through a lot of work in the centre of the pitch amid a tireless performance. Helped out defensively as well as doing his bit to push the Reds forward. Thoroughly deserved his standing ovation when he came off at the end. Rating: 8.5/10
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Had a few opportunities to get on the scoresheet. Wasn’t his night in front of goal but overall carried plenty of threat and looked lively throughout. Will surely find the back of the net soon. Rating: 7.5/10
Morgan Gibbs-White: The fingers-in-ears celebration is back, and how Forest have missed it! No messing with the penalty. The skipper undoubtedly had more of a spring in his step than of late. Rating: 8/10
Igor Jesus: Excellent penalty to double the Reds’ lead after making a nuisance of himself all night. Only blot on the copybook was a silly booking picked up in the first half which will mean he is suspended for the next Europa League game. Rating: 8/10
Subs
Nicolo Savona (for Zinchenko, 45mins): Booked for diving initially when he was challenged by Fernandes in the box. VAR swiftly intervened, though, and Forest were awarded the penalty from which they doubled their lead. Rating: 7/10
Ryan Yates (for Luiz, 84mins): Will have enjoyed this one; certainly more so than the last European game at the City Ground. Did his bit in the closing minutes. Rating: 6/10
Ibrahim Sangare (for Anderson, 90+3mins): Didn’t have long on the pitch. Regardless, this can hopefully be the turning point Forest need. Rating: 6/10
Subs not used: Victor, Willows, Morato, Kalimuendo, Dominguez, McAtee, Boly, Abbott, Blake.
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