Nottinghamshire

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Ange Postecoglou takes charge of Nottingham Forest at the City Ground for the first time on Saturday, with promoted Sunderland the visitors. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes going into the game.

Postecoglou is the first permanent Nottingham Forest manager to be winless after four games in charge since Stan Hardy in 1930. Nonetheless, he has been encouraged by the team's adoption of his front-foot philosophy in back-to-back draws away to Burnley and Real Betis.

The Australian saw moments of "beauty" from his side during their first European game for 29 years on Wednesday, when a late Betis equaliser denied them victory. It was the third match in a row in which Forest have been unable to hold on to a lead.

"We need to now convert our good play into victories, but I think that'll come if we keep playing like that," Postecoglou enthused afterwards. "I just thought some of the football we played was outstanding and this group of players have been really receptive to what we're trying to do."

The table below shows how Postecoglou's appointment has accelerated Nottingham Forest's change from a side who sat deep and used long balls to launch attacks. In their past two matches, they have gone against the growing trend for a direct approach, instead creating chances through slick passing moves.

Postecoglou is winless in nine Premier League games, including his time at Tottenham. It is the worst top-flight run of his managerial career but Saturday represents the 60-year-old's first home match with Forest.

Positive omens for Black Cats

Opponents Sunderland have bucked a trend so far this season by making a strong start. Their tally of eight points after five games is the equal-highest by a promoted side across the past seven seasons.

In Premier League history, 15 promoted sides have reached eight points or more after five matches - and they all avoided relegation.

Sunderland were winless heading into October in each of their previous four top-flight campaigns. They already have two victories this time around and have demonstrated the "well organised and pragmatic" identity that head coach Regis le Bris referenced during pre-season.

History suggests the Black Cats will stay up but they head into back-to-back away fixtures seeking a first win - and goal - on the road. A slow start on their travels characterised Sunderland's previous seven Premier League campaigns, during which it took them seven attempts on average to earn a first away victory.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary of Nottingham Forest v Sunderland at 17:30 BST on Saturday

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou believes his first victory as Nottingham Forest boss is only important for their development - not his own image.

They host Sunderland at the City Ground in the Premier League on Saturday - Postecoglou's first home game in charge.

Forest drew 2-2 at Real Betis in their Europa League opener on Wednesday, their first European game for 29 years, to extend his winless start to four games.

the Australian dismissed any additional pressure and wants victory to ensure Forest do not miss out on opportunities later in the season.

He said: "It's important, not necessarily for me but what we're trying to embark on. There's two ways to win faith - to win games, that's the instant one, but if you are not doing that there needs to be something that looks like it's encouraging.

"I get that people are putting it that I need to win my first game for whatever reason, but we need to win to make sure we're in a great position when everything clicks to make an impact.

"Since the Arsenal game - at Swansea, Burnley and on Wednesday night - some of the football we played was really compelling because it's what we're working on.

"The players - Igor [Jesus], Elliot [Anderson] - are growing all the time. The centre-backs are showing personality, the full-backs are adjusting."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Douglas Luiz is out of Nottingham Forest's game with Sunderland with a hamstring injury.

The midfielder has gone for a scan on the hamstring injury he suffered in the 2-2 Europa League draw at Real Betis on Wednesday.

Boss Ange Postecoglou is confident it is not serious but they need to look after the on loan Juventus midfielder's fitness and he will miss Saturday's visit of the Black Cats.

"Douglas Luiz wasn't great yesterday so we have sent him for a scan on his hamstring. He won't be available this weekend," he said.

"With him, I think we have got to be really careful with how we use him in the early part of the year. He had a lot of issues last year at Juventus and came in late here.

"We'll just be cautious with him. We'll see what the scan says but he definitely won't be available this week.

"It's nothing serious, we know that; it's nothing significant. But with the international window around the corner, there might be an opportunity for us to really build him up because he's such a good player and we saw that the other night."

Murillo remains out having missed the last three games with a thigh problem he suffered against Arsenal.

Postecoglou added: "Murillo is still not where we want him to be. He's still not totally comfortable.

"He is still doing individual training. We were hoping he would progress a bit quicker, but it was a pretty severe knock on his thigh.

"My understanding is the healing process has just been slower than what we thought and he doesn't feel comfortable. We've just got to be patient with him.

"He is out on the grass and working individually. It is just a matter of incorporating him back into the team."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Sunderland at the City Ground (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference

• Murillo remains sidelined, with Postecoglou adding that "the healing process is slower than we thought". The centre-back is on the grass doing individual training so "now it's just about incorporating him back into the team".

• Midfielder Douglas Luiz has been sent for a scan on his hamstring but "it's nothing serious or significant". Postecoglou added: "With the international break just round the corner, there might be an opportunity for us to really build him up to where we need him to be."

• Postecoglou confirmed there are otherwise no new injury concerns among the players and the "majority of them have bounced back pretty well" from Wednesday's Europa League game.

• On how the squad can move on from that game now: "Mentally. It is the challenge now to be able to park whatever emotions we have and take our focus into this game [against Sunderland]."

• Postecoglou said he is "certainly looking forward" to playing at home for the first time and anticipates there being "a really good buzz" among the fans.

• He said "the players will enjoy it" too after four consecutive away games, adding: "When they walk out and they hear the noise that will be supportive of them, I think it will help the performance."

• On what he makes of their performances so far: "We are definitely making progress. Our football is gradually getting to the place that we want. The results haven't been what we wanted, but that's not because of lack of performance, and that's an important thing for me."

• He said striker Igor Jesus "has done incredibly well" and "made an impact" in the short time he has been at the club.

Hear more from Postecoglou on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to commentary of Nottingham Forest v Sunderland on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra at 17:30 on Saturday

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Going into Ange Postecoglou's first home game against Sunderland on Saturday without a win is unfortunate but it should be not an issue - yet.

Postecoglou has told his players to ensure their heads do not drop, despite his four-game winless start, because he can see the progress they have made in a short period of time.

That there is disappointment over a point at Real Betis - last season's Conference League runners-up - shows how far Forest have come in such a short space of time.

Forest were five minutes - plus added time - away from winning their first European game in 29 years.

That is the message Postecoglou is likely to send when he meets the media later.

The winless run only becomes an issue if it continues. Forest will be expected to beat Sunderland - regardless of the Black Cats' good start.

They aspire to be higher and returning to Europe next season so games like Saturday's need to end in victory.

Come back to this page later on Friday for all the key lines from Postecoglou.