Nottinghamshire

Gareth Roberts
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

After defeat at Emirates Stadium, Ange Postecoglou promised this would be the game where the first signs of his influence on the team he inherited from Nuno Espirito Santo would be visible.

He did not have time to waste, he said.

And at the very least, the Australian will have gained a greater idea of what he has at his disposal after handing first starts to talent that cost the club the best part of £120m over the summer.

He would have had every right to have been impressed with Jesus, the striker nicknamed the 'Little Frog', who jumped at the opportunity to open his account in the south Wales rain.

More importantly for Forest, Jesus' second was an example of the kind of football associated with Postecoglou's teams as a sweeping move cut the hosts open and made it easy for the striker to finish.

There were signs too of Juventus loanee Douglas Luiz's class and what the likes of Hutchinson and McAtee could provide.

But there were also signs – as if the result did not make it obvious - that the former Spurs boss has plenty of work to do.

It was Swansea who looked to have the kind of tempo 'Angeball' is meant to have, pressing hard from the front with intensity.

And although Forest could point to spurned chances from a number of players, it would be tough to say that Swansea did not earn the win.

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Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou speaking to Sky Sports after the Reds were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Swansea City.

"I just thought it was a game we really should have killed off long before it got to the stage that it did,

"I got the sense we were getting a bit comfortable and thought the game would finish off easily but that's not what happens, particularly in cup football. I thought we scored a good third goal.

"I think the lads got a bit comfortable in that moment and you've got to know the warning signs.

"We had to finish them off and we had plenty of opportunities to do that, and a couple of decisions didn't go our way.

"Players just thought it would naturally finish that way and we've paid a heavy price for that. We need to improve.

"They had two shots from outside the box in the first half and didn't really test us until right at the end.

"There were a lot of players out there who needed some football, but even within that context we were well in control of that game and should have seen it out.

"I was just frustrated that we didn't realise the danger that could have developed by not being more clinical and killing off the opponent when we should have."

• Nottingham Forest ended the contest with an xG (expected goals) of 2.83. For Swansea, it was just 0.72.

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Swansea XI: Fisher, Key, Yalcouye, Eom, Burgess, Samuels-Smith, Franco, Benson, Casey, Galbraith, Idah

Subs: Farman, Cabango, Widell, Vipotnik, Tymon, Cullen, Wales, Inoussa, Ronald

Forest XI: John, Morato, Luiz, Jesus, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Bakwa, Boly, Zinchenko, Savona.

Subs: Gunn, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Kalimuendo, Jair Cunha, Abbott

Image source, Getty Images

Ola Aina has had successful surgery on a hamstring injury sustained on international duty with Nigeria, Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou has said.

The full-back is set for an extended spell out of action, which Postecoglou described as "a massive blow for him and for me".

The former Spurs boss told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I was looking forward to working with him. I watched him as an opponent last year and, particularly with the way I like my full-backs to play, he was a perfect fit for it.

"I know he was excited by the season ahead, back in European football. Sometimes when these things happen early in the year, I said to him that the best part of the season will be there for him so he can make a massive impact when it is most needed.

"His surgery went really well - that's the first thing ticked. Now he's got to work hard and rehab, which I'm sure he will, and he'll stay close to the group."

Listen to Postecoglou's full interview with BBC Radio Nottingham on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest thought about a move for Sergio Reguilon over the summer, with the 28-year-old Spain full-back a free agent after leaving Tottenham. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

New Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has targeted EFL Cup glory.

The League Cup was the last major honour the club won in 1990 and they go to Swansea City in the third round on Wednesday.

Postecoglou and owner Evangelos Marinakis have been clear he is at the club to win silverware and that quest for Forest starts at the Liberty Stadium.

"I think so, yes [it is a chance to win a trophy]. I got to the semi-finals last year [with Tottenham, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Liverpool]," he said.

"Every opportunity you have to win a trophy, you shouldn't let it go. It's hard to win things, especially when you're at a club that has had success in the past and the supporters want more of it.

"We'll give ourselves every opportunity to have a win.

"In the context of the club's ambitions, where we are in terms of the season with me coming in, it's a great opportunity for us to implement some things we want to. It's an important game."

Postecoglou will be without Murillo after he came off against Arsenal, Nicolo Savona replacing him at the weekend, and the new boss is likely to make sweeping changes.

Summer signings James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Arnaud Kalimuendo could be given starts in south Wales.

"They haven't had a chance to get out there, some haven't played at all yet," said Postecoglou.

"Tomorrow is the perfect opportunity to get them out there, get them playing and get them feeling what it's like to play for the club and get some match fitness into them.

"We are going to need all the players and the last thing we want is to have players who haven't played for over a month."

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie at Championship side Swansea City (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou said defender Murillo is "progressing well" after suffering "a significant knock" in the defeat at Arsenal but he will not feature at Swansea: "Every day he has improved and he wants to be ready for Saturday [against Burnley]. We're hopeful he will be available."

• On how important the game is: "They are all important in the context of the club's ambition and where we are in terms of the season and with me coming in, a great opportunity to implement some of the things we want to."

• Postecoglou said it has not been "difficult" to get his ideas across and that it is "just a matter of time", adding: "We have had two really good training sessions with the whole group. The past two days have been good in terms of getting the players understanding the routines we will have going into games. It feels a lot more calm and controlled."

• On his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis: "I haven't seen him but he's been good, he has reached out. He knows the challenge that is before us but he is very ambitious. He supported both the previous managers very, very well and that's all you can ask for as a manager. I know I will be [supported] and that's all you can ask for as a manager."

• On the Carabao Cup being a trophy he wants to win: "I got to the semi-finals last year and I think every opportunity you have to win a trophy, you shouldn't let go. It is hard to win things in football. This cup gives us every opportunity to win some silverware."

• Postecoglou says his first seven days at the club have been "great" and he has a "really good feeling". He added that he has "settled in really quickly" and he feels "very comfortable in the place".

• On seeing new players against Swansea: "The club invested heavily in the summer, a lot of new players and they haven't really had a chance to get out there. Some of them haven't played at all and Wednesday is a perfect opportunity to get them out there and give them a feel of what it is like to play for the club while getting some match fitness into them."

Hear more from Postecoglou on BBC Sounds

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