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Replacing a team icon was consistently going to be a tough assignment, but the previous manager succeeded to achieve a shrewd move after Steve Cooper’s departure: winning his initial pair of matches. A great deal is forgotten about the first six months of Nuno’s time in charge, when the squad survived just one position above the drop zone and went through a stretch of winning only once in 10 Premier League matches.

Nuno had done the vital job of raising morale and winning over the fans by beating Newcastle away and creating enthusiasm by overcoming a major rival at home, and no one was calling for aesthetic football. The home stadium was buzzing in late December 2023, and local supporters did not mind that they witnessed only two more victories there for the remainder of the season.

The club fans call for Postecoglou axe after 23 days following European defeat.

Ange Postecoglou is yet to experience success, making him the initial Forest head coach in a century to fail to secure a victory in any of their first six games. There was a toxic atmosphere at the stadium on Thursday night as they lost to the second-best team in the Danish league. When fans are calling for your sacking after 23 days, it is fair to say things are not progressing smoothly. On Friday there were no intentions to dismiss the manager but a defeat at St James’ Park on the weekend could cost him his position.

Everyone at the organization understood there would be a period of transition because the Australian’s tactical approach is almost a polar opposite to the one Nuno carefully developed there. The strategy was developing under the former coach but not at the pace Postecoglou is trying to implement.

Beginning with four away games was always going to be a tough challenge for Postecoglou. Kicking off at Arsenal meant generating momentum from the outset was unlikely but suffering a defeat at Swansea in the Carabao Cup and tying at Burnley put him on the back foot. The match at a Spanish club seemed to be a positive shift because the performance was strong and in line with expectations regarding Postecoglou’s philosophy. The processes were sound and, but for a last-minute opposing player goal, success would have begun.

However Forest are still grounded. If the coach could have been forgiven for the away results, losing at their stadium to Sunderland and a European side was not part of the thinking. There was a degree of explanation in the initial home defeat: a soft set-piece decision that led to the decisive goal and appalling shooting from Forest meant the points went back to the north-east. Forest had almost two-thirds of possession and multiple attempts but outscoring an opponent on expected goals is meaningless.

Ange Postecoglou and Neco Williams will want to turn Nottingham Forest’s results around at the next venue on the upcoming matchday.

There was a hope that once the forwards regained their scoring touch, everything would be fine but ineffective conversion is only a single of the problems confronting the boss. The solid defensive unit constructed by the previous manager has been dismantled, leaving him awaiting a clean sheet. Stopping dead-ball situations has been problematic, a pair of the opponent’s goals coming from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a fast break, the type that were a common occurrence during his time at Tottenham.

The coach was keen to get back to work promptly after being dismissed by Tottenham, particularly with a Europa League winner’s medal around his neck. He wanted to prove critics wrong and Forest presented that opportunity, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had triumphed in in the spring. The Greek link with Forest’s proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, helped make the hiring straightforward and Postecoglou, in spite of his critics, does have the qualifications required – but practicality was unlikely to be involved.

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The former manager was never sacked for sporting causes but for initiating a fight with Marinakis that he was never going to win. Ending up in seventh place and guiding Forest into continental competition made Nuno incredibly beloved. Despite his gripes, a squad able of finishing in the upper section was put together and plenty of funds was spent. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a clear long-term vision and strategy, which included a team that suited Nuno. Now it feels as if a stepdad has moved into the home and the children are displeased.

Trips to one opponent and Bournemouth bookend the visit of Chelsea in the next three league fixtures, implying the situation is only going to get harder. Marinakis made the selection with his heart and is urgently wishing to prevent another sacking because removing the manager would be an acknowledgment that he made two terrible decisions in letting go of the former coach and selecting the successor. Football is one big public approval contest and the ex-boss began winning his at St James’ Park. Postecoglou needs to emulate that or he risks losing his permanently.