🎧 A perfect startpublished at 17:59 BST 24 October
17:59 BST 24 October
It could not have gone much better for Sean Dyche in his first game in charge of Nottingham Forest - a 2-0 win over Porto in the Europa League and a first clean sheet in 21 matches.
In the latest episode of Shut Up And Show More Football, BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray and David Jackson reflected back on a memorable European night and what Dyche's arrival could mean for Forest going forward.
Fray said: "If he was going to plan out a first game, he'd have an unbeaten team on top of the Portuguese league on a European night under the lights at City Ground and beat them, to inflict their first defeat of the season, get a couple of penalties on the way, have a bit of drama with VAR and keep a clean sheet for the first time in 21 matches.
'Don't lose this moment' - Dyche on Mull of Kintyrepublished at 15:19 BST 24 October
15:19 BST 24 October
Image source, Getty Images
Sean Dyche says he "didn't want to lose this moment" when he was taking in the atmosphere before his first match in charge against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The new Nottingham Forest boss could be seen at the edge of his technical area observing and listening to the reception from fans as he came out when they started signing their version of Mull of Kintyre.
Dyche came through the Forest youth system, but never made a first team appearance and had hoped he could experience the famous City Ground atmosphere.
"During my career, particularly as a player, I didn't always do that [take in the atmosphere]," he told BBC Radio Nottingham
"The knife edge of success and failure gets to you and you are willing games to go through. You don't want to make a mistake, you want to play well.
"I stood there [before Porto game] and I thought, right, I was 16 walking along the Trent one day and all I wanted to do was put the shirt on.
"And then one day I am manager, so I thought 'don't lose this moment'. You never know in football how long it lasts and I thought 'don't lose this moment'.
"I was looking around and thinking 'there it is, have that'."
'I don't look at price tags' - Dyche on assessing his Forest squadpublished at 13:32 BST 24 October
13:32 BST 24 October
Image source, Getty Images
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche feels there are players in his squad who need to "develop into the truth and the reality of the Premier League".
The 54-year-old was appointed as Forest's new head coach on Tuesday and has already got his first win under his belt after the Reds beat Porto in the Europa League on Thursday.
Dyche has not had a lot of time to get to know a squad that has gone through significant changes since they were promoted into the Premier League in 2022, and when asked if this was the best squad he has worked with, he responded: "I don't know yet.
"It's like I have said, once things are on a piece of paper, [just] because you have spent some money then [all of a sudden] they're all brilliant. I don't know yet.
"On first impressions, it's a good squad. I've worked with some very underrated players, very good players who cost next to nothing who have delivered in the Premier League for many years.
"I don't look at price tags, I look at right in front of me; at what they are doing, what they know, what do they learn, how can they learn, how can they adapt to the truth of the Premier League? The Premier League is not just about quality. Every player in the Premier League has a form of quality, if you imagine technical quality.
"But what about the nuts and bolts of a player? What about understanding the Premier League? What about shape? What about discipline? What about getting into the right passing lanes very quickly? What about seeing the picture? They are the hardest things to coach and that often takes time. It takes maturation from playing in the Premier League.
"We think we have got quality and I must make that clear, but there are players who need to develop into the truth and the reality of the Premier League and I think that takes time."
Forest go to Bournemouth on Sunday hoping to get a first league win since their opening match of the campaign.
On the injury front, Dyche said: "Dilane Bakwa is going to be a bit longer, unfortunately.
"With Woody [Chris Wood], we are still waiting on news. It is settling, but how quick it can settle, we are waiting on more news on that. We will wait to see how [Oleksandr] Zinchenko is after coming off. That one is going to be touch and go, I think."
Fireworks and 'Forest are back' chants - fans on board with Dyche erapublished at 08:47 BST 24 October
08:47 BST 24 October
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
In the last European game at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest fans chanted "sacked in the morning" at Ange Postecoglou, in what was just his fifth game in charge.
That defeat to Midtjylland now feels the beginning of the end for the former Tottenham manager, as fans snapped early and refused to accept him.
They streamed out of the stadium after Reece James' goal put Chelsea 3-0 up on Saturday and owner Evangelos Marinkas had already left the stands just after an hour, having made up his mind.
Then there was resignation rather than anger, but on Thursday it was channelled into passion.
Pre-game Sean Dyche had struck the right tone when tapping into what supporters needed and what they could buy into, speaking about Brian Clough's dog Del Boy running around his feet almost 40 years ago.
All of his backroom staff have connections with the club, including coaches Ian Woan and Steve Stone, who were in the Forest team the last time they won in Europe - a 1-0 victory over Lyon in 1995.
Supporters responded with a fervent show of support for the ex-Burnley boss, roaring on the side even after they thought Jan Bednarek had levelled, before his goal was ruled out for offside.
Fireworks went off outside the City Ground following the final whistle and fans sung 'Forest are back', forging an early - and much needed - connection with Dyche.
'The entire club feels like a weight has been lifted' - fans on Porto winpublished at 08:13 BST 24 October
08:13 BST 24 October
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We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's impressive Europa League win over Porto, as penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus helped the Reds get off to a flying start under new head coach Sean Dyche.
Here are some of your replies:
Samuel: An assured performance but, most importantly, it was unified from the coaches to the players and the fans. It's early days but I think this has been a great appointment. This talented set of players finally look comfortable - as did the owner! A special mention to the fans singing for Harley Pearce as well, a tragic loss and my thoughts go out to the whole Pearce family.
Clive: Normal service has been restored. The team looked like a settled unit again; they knew their jobs and they did them. Porto have been on form but Forest were comfortable, even when tested by eight corners which have been a major weakness lately. A good start.
Tristan: I've got nothing against Ange at all, I wish him well, but the entire club feels like a weight has been lifted. Luiz and Gibbs-White were great when played in their natural positions. Milenkovic and Murillo looked far more comfortable. Let's not get carried away after one game, but let's treat this as a good start.
Ben: Solid and effective; it's like having Nuno back! That performance was just the tonic. If Dyche can keep playing his brand of no-nonsense pragmatic football then Forest should be able to salvage something moderately respectable from the embarrassing melodrama of the opening few months.
Rich: A little fortunate to get the win, but it was desperately needed to get the season back on track. The team looked more comfortable playing in a familiar formation. A good start, hopefully we can follow it up against our bogey team this weekend. Dyche is a far better fit than disaster Ange. I hope the owner has learnt his lesson. I'm not sure Edu is good for the club though, time will tell.
Analysis: Dyche moves things on quickly after Postecoglou spellpublished at 07:58 BST 24 October
07:58 BST 24 October
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Of the Nottingham Forest squad, only Matz Sels and Willy Boly had been born the last time the club won a European game.
Their last European victory came in November 1995 when they beat Lyon 1-0 in the Uefa Cup third round first leg, en route to a quarter-final loss to Bayern Munich.
Three days before the Lyon win, Chesterfield - where Dyche was playing - were on the other side of the Trent losing 4-1 at Notts County in the old Division Three.
Those games were a long time ago and Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Chelsea - which ended Ange Postecoglou's brief reign - also feels like a different time.
Forest's first win since the opening day came from grit, determination and hard work rather than any free-flowing football, with the City Ground rocking - instead of resigned and restless.
But as Sean Dyche himself put it in his opening news conference on Wednesday "the bit I like is when you win", citing style does not necessarily matter in a results business.
Penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus ensured the new manager got that feeling against the Primeira Liga leaders, who struggled to break down Forest's stubborn defence, as the hosts look to stabilise after their tumultuous few weeks.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Porto: What Dyche and Milenkovic saidpublished at 07:53 BST 24 October
07:53 BST 24 October
Image source, Getty Images
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche speaking to TNT Sports after the Europa League win against Porto: "Marvellous. It meant a lot as the players have been through a lot and the fans have, so just to give something back to them.
"We have been with them for two days and they have applied that very quickly. It is a start. There is a lot more to come but it is a start. A good start.
"The shape was good and we had to make sure that we kept it but also with the ball, can we stretch them? We managed to find the balance and we will get fitter and sharper. It will take a little bit of time.
"I don't want to be a purist I want to play long and stretch teams. That gives you more room to play in. We had a chance second half to stamp our authority. It was nice that we got the second goal to settle it.
"We are very proud to be here with our past and connection to the club but that goes away quickly. To get a clean sheet and a win for the crowd and the players and give them a bit more belief was great.
"I said to the lads it is a start and there is a whole lot more work to go. Now we need to keep building and keep working. We can't think that's all the questions answered. It is a journey and that is a good start."
On Morgan Gibbs-White: "We tried to take the shackles off him a little bit. He is very good defensively but Morgan is a calming influence and we need to point him in the right way. He is infectious in the way he plays and trains and I thought the feeling was back in the group."
Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic also spoke to TNT Sports: "We had a tough period. It was important to win this game and the clean sheet is important. We are so happy to give this victory to our fans.
"[Dyche] brought, for sure, positive energy. We did basic things and came back to being more confident on the pitch. We need to keep working and be ready for the next game.
"It was tough for us but always during the season there are tough periods. Today we reacted very good and I hope we keep going like this. We need to stay humble and keep improving. We need to keep making our incredible fans proud."
Did you know?
Nottingham Forest have recorded their first victory in a major European competition since November 1995 which was against Lyon in the Uefa Cup.
Forest have kept their first clean sheet in 21 matches across all competitions, with their last being a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League in April 2025.
