Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest host Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground this week in crunch clash
15:27, 09 Feb 2026
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis
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Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis(Image: Getty)
Head coach Sean Dyche has come out firing amid suggestions he is under pressure at Nottingham Forest.
A mini unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end for the Reds on Friday night as they lost 3-1 away to Leeds United. Coupled with results elsewhere over the weekend, they are currently just three points above the relegation zone.
That gap could be closed further, or even wiped out entirely, should West Ham United get a result against Manchester United on Tuesday night. Such a scenario would crank up the tension for Forest’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground the following day (7.30pm kick-off).
With the Reds’ top-flight status hanging in the balance, reports have suggested Dyche’s support within the club is not as strong as it once was. Owner Evangelos Marinakis has rolled the dice twice already this season - in sacking Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou - and the current occupant of the hot seat believes losing to Leeds does not necessitate installing a fourth manager of the campaign.
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“The ownership have always had contact with me,” Dyche said in his pre-match press conference. “The owner is well aware - and I made it clear to him - that this was never going to be smooth sailing all the way through. We have seen some hiccups; some good days and not so good days.
“We came off after the Palace game (a 1-1 draw) and got a really important point. It was a good point following a ten v 11 situation (after Neco Williams’ red card) and he (Marinakis) was congratulating me.
“I don’t think over one game it is going to be that extreme where he is suddenly going to say: ‘Right, we need to change everything at the club for a fourth time’. You never know. But I am a realist, and he is as well, about the current situation and what we took over here.”
Forest had gone four unbeaten in the league prior to defeat at Elland Road. It had led to Dyche being nominated for the Premier League’s manager of the month award for January.
Asked whether talk of increased pressure on him is fair, Dyche replied: “It is not about fair any more. It is the reality of life as a modern manager.
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“On the same day I was (nominated for) manager of the month, people are saying I should be sacked. That is a new one on me - and I have been doing this a long time.
“People a few weeks ago were saying brilliant things about Eddie Howe, saying he should be Manchester United manager - now they are saying he should be sacked. This is the modern way.
“It is not about good or bad. This is not me protecting myself by the way, it is just my view.
“Clickbait is the new thing in life. It is just life, and that mirrors often in my experience. It is often mirrored in stadiums.
“There should always be pressure on managers because that is our job - trying to deliver. One loss in five in the Premier League and if we win the next one we will have taken 11 points in six games. Everyone knows where that form will go.
“This is the reality of the job we do. It is not relevant whether it is right or wrong, it is just there.
“I do not get too high with the highs or two low with the lows. I try to keep an even keel and do what I do, which is to try to get a group of players to win football matches.”
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