Latest Nottingham Forest news as new Reds head coach Sean Dyche oversees 2-0 win over Porto at the City Ground
05:00, 24 Oct 2025
Sean Dyche reacts on the sideline 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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Sean Dyche reacts on the sideline during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Nottingham Forest FC and FC Porto at City Ground
Sean Dyche was determined to savour the moment as he took to the City Ground touchline for the first time as Nottingham Forest head coach.
The newly-appointed Reds manager stood still and looked around the stadium as pre-match anthem Mull of Kintyre was belted out ahead of kick-off on Thursday night. He wanted to take it all in.
Dyche didn’t quite make the grade as a youth player during his time at Forest, but his tenure in the dugout certainly got off to the perfect start. A 2-0 Europa League triumph over Porto saw the Reds back to winning ways for the first time since the opening day of the season.
“It was brilliant,” Dyche said of his debut as Forest boss. “Someone mentioned how I just stood and looked around, and I said: ‘Well, I’ve waited a long time for that moment.’
“As a young person here in 1987, when I came here at 16, all I wanted to do was wear the shirt. It didn’t come my way - and I probably wasn’t good enough at that time.
“To come back as manager is super pleasing. To stand there and just absorb it… I’ve learnt in life that sometimes you just have to slow your thinking and take it in.
"So many big moments in life have been so nerve-wracking that they just go and suddenly they are finished. So I thought, right, come on, take it in and put it in the memory.”
Penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus clinched the three points for the hosts on the night. It left the home crowd chanting ‘Forest are back’ as a miserable run of form was put to bed.
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"When you are on the side you don't hear every word. You just hear a noise and you know if it's a positive noise or a negative noise," said Dyche.
"I'm not here to judge or question anything, just to deliver what I can for the club. That’s my job and that’s what I intend to do.
“It's nice when they support you from the off. Winning helps.
"These fans are pretty fair, win, lose or draw. If they see a team out there wearing the shirt with pride and giving everything they can, I think they'll accept that.
“To start off with a good performance and a win is very pleasing for them. If they can accept me and my staff and what's going on, that's got to be a bonus. Hopefully it will fasttrack the feeling around the ground."
Dyche was only appointed on Tuesday but his impact was clear against the Portuguese outfit. The atmosphere around the club was much more buoyant, even before kick-off, while the performance on the pitch was a significant improvement on recent weeks.
Ange Postecoglou had failed to record a single victory during his 39 days in charge before being sacked last weekend. This display was reminiscent of the Forest of last season under Nuno Espirito Santo, with a first clean-sheet since April recorded.
“I actually thanked the players afterwards, not just for the win but for the way they have listened and adapted,” said Dyche. “They have had a lot going on.
“We have crammed a lot in and asked a lot of them. To accept it, be open-minded and still deliver is very, very pleasing.
“They have taken a lot on. That’s why I thanked them, really. It’s another voice, another set of coaches, trying to mould them slightly differently and offer a different set of ideas. They have got to go and deliver, and they have delivered - against a very good side.
“A clean-sheet as well to boot. Us managers love those clean-sheets.
“I’m very pleased. I’m pleased for the fans as well - yet again, they have stuck by the club. I’ve seen it over so many years.
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“I think they are a fair crowd. I think they give you a chance as a manager; they will bite their lip and give you a chance whether you win, lose or draw.”
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