Nottinghamshire

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.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest's 2-2 draw at Real Betis may ultimately prove a positive result, given the Spaniards are among the favourites for this season's Europa League, but it means new boss Ange Postecoglou has failed to win any of his first four games in charge.

Frustratingly for the Australian, Forest have gone ahead in the past three of those matches but have been unable to hang on to their advantage.

That lack of resilience was a recurring problem during Postecoglou's reign at Tottenham. His Spurs side dropped 29 Premier League points from winning positions last term - more than any other side.

That tally rises to 49 points across his two seasons in north London. The only club with a worse record during that period were Brentford – then managed by Postecoglou's successor at Spurs, Thomas Frank.

To be fair to Postecoglou, Forest's weakness at protecting leads predates his arrival, with 44 points dropped in the past two campaigns despite a more counter-attacking style under Steve Cooper and Nuno Espirito Santo.

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Former Nottingham Forest striker Robert Earnshaw says Igor Jesus looks the "real deal" and could "replace Chris Wood" as the club's first-choice centre-forward.

Jesus scored two goals to give the Reds a 2-1 lead at Real Betis on Wednesday, to take his tally to four goals for his new club, but Ange Postecoglou's side conceded late on to draw their first European game in 30 years.

"Of course you're going to take any point in a first European game for 30 years - especially at Betis, which is a hard place to play," Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"Occasion-wise it was great. But, with the late equaliser you feel a little bit of disappointment when you head into the dressing room thinking: 'We were only five minutes away, why didn't we do this or that?'

"In the next couple of days it will feel like a point gained, for sure."

Jesus, 24, was making his own European debut but impressed throughout and was given a standing ovation by the travelling fans when he came off in the 64th minute.

"Bought for £10m from Botofogo - he's already scored four goals," Earnshaw added. "They've got a steal here.

"Chris Wood was incredible last season - a talisman and real key player. But, you just think his position right now is in trouble because Igor Jesus just looks every part the real deal. His movement, his finishing, he's always in the right areas.

"He could prove to be the steal of the whole transfer window. He looks excellent and is not fazed by the moment. Even in the games where he hasn't scored, he has almost scored and looked good.

"Every game he does something. We could be looking at someone who has full-time replaced Chris Wood in a few months' time."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds from 1:18:00

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's first game back in Europe after 30 years.

Here are some of your comments:

Sean: The first European game in 30 years did not disappoint. We could have been over the hill and far away by half-time but for missing chances. Second half, we slowly faded away as Betis wore us down. A draw is fair. At £10m, Igor Jesus is looking like the signing of the season. A good start to our European adventure. Come on, you Reds!

Patch: Amazing first-half performance - but dreadful substitutions. Whatever was said at half-time had the opposite effect. Seriously hope Nuno Espirito Santo's hard work isn't undone before Christmas.

Tim: The withdrawal of Douglas Luiz and change of shape at half-time was baffling, as was the decision to rotate Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus - two of our best players on the night. Ange Postecoglou will need to rotate to keep the squad fresh but, right now, the team needs to settle. This was a game we should have won comfortably.

Ted: Superb first-half performance but faded in the second half. Some sloppy passing could have cost us but a draw will do for starters.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Like everything, context is key for Nottingham Forest.

Ange Postecoglou is right when he says the wins will come, and they could - and perhaps should - have had one or two already.

The late collapse at Swansea City in the Carabao Cup was a huge disappointment, but other results carry their own reflections.

Forest lost 3-0 at Arsenal off the back of one full training session after Postecoglou's arrival and the September international break. The Burnley draw was hard fought and a point was a fair result against a tenacious home side who look better equipped to survive this season.

So then a 2-2 draw away at Betis in their first European game for almost three decades can only be viewed as positive.

This is a club that only avoided relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season less than 18 months ago. They have come a long way in a short space of time - not without some bumps in the road - and progression is not linear.

Postecoglou has worked to quickly implement his style in the two weeks he has been at the club and results will come.

Forest host Sunderland in Postecoglou's first home game since taking charge on Saturday and as his philosophies take hold there will be greater expectation to for victories.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White says it would be "wrong" for the team to go into the Europa League without having the goal to win it.

The Reds began their first European campaign in 30 years with a 2-2 draw at Real Betis on Wednesday.

In an entertaining game, Forest had a number of chances to take a big lead into half-time but could not take them and were ultimately pegged back late in the match.

"That's our goal - to go and win the competition," Gibbs-White said.

"It would be wrong for us to go into the competition with a different mindset. That's definitely our goal and our motivation.

"The fans were outstanding, so thank you to them for travelling such a long way.

"Coming back into Europe after 30 years is an incredible feeling, and to walk out there as captain, to play the game, was a real honour.

"I feel like we might look back at this game and realise it was a good point, but one that we know we could have got three points."

Still waiting for a first win under new boss Ange Postecoglou, Forest will be looking to put the disappointment of losing the lead against Betis behind them as they host Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

"We should have had four or five goals in the first half," added Gibbs-White. "But this game is cruel and it's something we've got to get better as a team in managing the game out.

"We were great at that last season and we've got to try to add that into our game this season."

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham sports editor in Seville

Image source, Getty Images

Once the Real Betis fans had left the stadium on Wednesday night, all that was left was the 3500 Forest supporters, high up in one corner, left to reflect on an exciting, at times breathless return to the European stage.

That is until Ryan Yates and the rest of the substitutes ran out for a warm down. And what a reception they got. As the players applauded the travelling spectators, Yates set to orchestrating them in chants in a real symbol of togetherness and mutual appreciation.

Yates' appearance as a sub last night means he can add Europa League to his list of competitions he has played in, which includes National League (with Barrow), League Two (Notts County), League One (Scunthorpe), the Championship and the Premier League (with Forest).

His rise up the leagues is as impressive as Forest's in recent years.

It was a big test for Yates, and indeed for the players he now finds himself surrounded by (he is the only one left from the team which won promotion in 2022), but it is a test they passed.

Watching them carve open the Betis defence during a brilliant first half was a sign not just that Forest had arrived in Europe, but also that they have a chance of making a big statement in the tournament.

Fans have waited nearly 30 years and now they have just a week to wait for a home European test. And this time more than just a few thousand will be able to see it.