Latest Nottingham Forest news as Sean Dyche makes winning start to Reds tenure with 2-0 Europa League victory over Porto
10:36, 24 Oct 2025
Head coach Sean Dyche speaks to Nikola Milenkovic and Morgan Gibbs-White during Nottingham Forest's win over Porto
View Image
Head coach Sean Dyche speaks to Nikola Milenkovic and Morgan Gibbs-White during Nottingham Forest's win over Porto(Image: Getty)
Defender Nikola Milenkovic has credited the ‘positive energy’ brought by new head coach Sean Dyche as being key to Nottingham Forest getting back to winning ways.
After being appointed on Tuesday, Dyche had limited time with his players before taking to the City Ground dugout for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Porto. But the instant impact made by the former Reds trainee was clear as the hosts triumphed 2-0 over their Portuguese opponents.
Not since the opening day of the season, when Nuno Espirito Santo was still in charge, had Forest tasted victory prior to the midweek match. Ange Postecoglou went 39 days and eight games without managing to oversee what Dyche registered at the first attempt.
"For sure, he brought positive energy,” centre-back Milenkovic said of the new Reds boss. “We didn’t have a lot of training (time); we did basic things and came back to being more confident on the pitch.
“We need to keep going and move forward. We need to be ready for the next game.”
He added: "It was a tough period for us and a little bit of negativity around the squad. But always during the season there are tough periods.
“We need to pass these periods as a squad. We reacted very good and I hope we keep going like this.
“I hope it is a turning point. We need to stay humble because it is just one win. The season is long, we need to keep improving and working on things. We need to keep making our incredible fans proud because the atmosphere was incredible."
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.
Keeping out a Portuguese side that had been in fine form before their trip to Nottingham resulted in a first clean-sheet since April for Forest. Penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus ensured they claimed all three points as the gloom of Postecoglou's tenure was well and truly lifted.
Now the challenge for Dyche’s men is to turn the tide in the Premier League. Ahead of Sunday’s game away to Bournemouth (2pm kick-off), they sit 18th in the table.
"We had a tough period behind us but it was important to win this game and the clean-sheet means a lot to us,” Milenkovic told TNT Sports. “We are so happy to give this victory to our fans.
Article continues below
“The fans were incredible. It was a great atmosphere and a big win. We have to keep going.”
Who was your Forest man of the match against Porto? Click HERE to have your say