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Taking over from a team icon was always going to be a challenging assignment, but Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded to pull off a smart strategy after Steve Cooper’s exit: winning his initial pair of fixtures. A great deal is forgotten about the opening six months of Nuno’s time in charge, when the squad survived just one place above the relegation zone and endured a stretch of taking victory in only one time in 10 top-flight games.

The former boss had accomplished the vital task of boosting team spirit and winning over the supporters by beating an opponent away and creating excitement by beating a major rival at home, and nobody was calling for aesthetic football. The City Ground was buzzing in the end of 2023, and home fans did not mind that they saw only two more wins there for the rest of the season.

Nottingham Forest supporters demand Postecoglou dismissal after less than a month following continental defeat.

The Australian coach is yet to taste a win, making him the initial Forest manager in a hundred years to fail to win any of their opening half-dozen fixtures. There was a poisonous atmosphere at the City Ground on the recent matchday as they lost to the runner-up team in Denmark. When supporters are demanding your dismissal after three weeks, it is reasonable to say things are not going well. On Friday there were no plans to dismiss the manager but a loss at Newcastle on the weekend could end his job.

All those at the organization understood there would be a period of change because the new manager’s style of play is virtually a complete contrast to the one Nuno carefully developed there. The plan was developing under the former coach but not at the speed Postecoglou is trying to introduce.

Beginning with a series of road matches was consistently going to be a difficult ask for Postecoglou. Kicking off at a top side meant building momentum from the first whistle was improbable but suffering a defeat at a Championship team in the domestic cup and tying at Burnley put him on the back foot. The match at Real Betis appeared to be a positive shift because the performance was impressive and in line with expectations regarding the manager’s style. The processes were correct and, but for a late Antony goal, success would have commenced.

Instead Forest are still stuck. If Postecoglou could have been forgiven for the performances on the road, falling at their stadium to Sunderland and Midtjylland was never part of the thinking. There was a element of mitigation in the first home loss: a soft set-piece decision that led to the decisive goal and appalling finishing from Forest meant the result went away to the opposing team. Forest had nearly the majority of the ball and 22 shots but outscoring an opponent on expected goals is irrelevant.

The manager and a key player will aim to reverse Nottingham Forest’s results around at Newcastle on Sunday.

There was a belief that once the strikers regained their scoring touch, all aspects would be fine but ineffective finishing is only one of the issues confronting the boss. The solid backline built by the previous manager has been taken apart, leaving him awaiting a clean sheet. Defending dead-ball situations has been problematic, a pair of the opponent’s goals originating from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a fast break, the sort that were a regular feature during his time at Tottenham.

Postecoglou was eager to return to management promptly after being sacked by Tottenham, especially with a Europa League winner’s medal around his neck. He aimed to show people wrong and Forest presented that opportunity, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had won in May. The Hellenic link with Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, helped make the hiring smooth and the manager, in spite of his critics, possesses the qualifications required – but practicality was not to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was not fired for sporting reasons but for initiating a dispute with Marinakis that he was never going to prevail in. Finishing seventh and guiding Forest into Europe made Nuno extremely beloved. In spite of his gripes, a squad capable of ending in the top half was assembled and plenty of funds was invested. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a clear future plan and strategy, which included a team that fit Nuno. Now it feels as if a new figure has entered the home and the children are displeased.

Visits to Newcastle and another rival bookend the visit of Chelsea in the next three Premier League games, suggesting the situation is only going to get more difficult. Marinakis made the selection with his emotions and is desperately wishing to avoid another sacking because firing Postecoglou would be an admission that he made a pair of dreadful choices in letting go of Nuno and choosing the replacement. The sport is one big public approval contest and Nuno began winning his at the away ground. Postecoglou needs to do the same or he risks losing his for good.