Latest Nottingham Forest news as Sean Dyche's Reds draw 2-2 with Manchester United at the City Ground
07:00, 02 Nov 2025
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche watches from the touchline against Manchester United
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Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche watches from the touchline against Manchester United(Image: Getty)
New head coach Sean Dyche has admitted he has a ‘big job’ on his hands at Nottingham Forest but he is certain positive progress is being made.
The Reds had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Manchester United as they claimed their first Premier League point under Dyche. Goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona saw them come from behind at the City Ground, while a late equaliser denied them a first league win since the opening day of the season.
Overall, it was an encouraging performance from the hosts on the back of their disappointing display at Bournemouth last weekend. Dyche has been in charge less than a fortnight and has a number issues to address - several of which date back to the end of last term - but he is confident the tide will soon turn as Forest fight to get up the table.
"When I spoke to the owner (Evangelos Marinakis), I said we haven't got a magic wand or magic dust,” Dyche said after Saturday’s stalemate. “This is a process, which he understands. I can't change everything.
“It's not like you can flick a switch and win 10 on the trot. I hope we do, but it’s not normally like that. There's a lot to be done here.
"The end of last season, it was slowly drifting a little bit. Just to be clear, it was still a great season - a fantastic season, actually, for this football club. But it was drifting a little bit.
"And then we hardly scored a goal in pre-season. We have got to correct all of that and also stop it going in at the other end.”
Dyche has overseen three games since replacing Ange Postecoglou and becoming the Reds’ third manager of the campaign. He has been clear about wanting to up the squad’s fitness levels and has also directed players to put more crosses into the box.
He is pleased with the response he has seen so far from a talented group, though. The draw with United ended a four-match losing streak in the league and provided another platform for Forest to build on.
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"I've seen a very good response,” Dyche said. “I think they know we've already started our education on the physical side - for my way of working, I must make that clear.
"There has been some really good stuff. I think there's some talent here. The basis to work from is good.
"We've still got injuries. When those players come back, it is a big squad but it has got some knowledge, some talent and some newness with the younger players.
"But you have got to win games, that’s the biggest challenge. We have got to change that.
“We’ve spoken about the stats regarding clean-sheets and goals scored. It’s a big job.
“It's not a case of there you go, crack on. It's a big job. But the signs are very clear with two out of the three performances - certainly this one and against Porto.
"There is a group who are willing to work and to play - to find that balance - and also to fight for the club and for the badge. There have been good signs of that.
"There's a lot of good signs over two out of the three games. We have got to maintain and build on that, but there’s some really strong signs of performances growing and improving. That is key over the rest of the season.”
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