Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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 29 years can only be viewed as positive.

This is a club who 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.

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Does Alex make a good point?

This Nottingham Forest side finished seventh in the Premier League last season and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

We've got plenty of texts flooding in on whether we are starting to see signs of 'Angeball' but let's have a quick vote on the good old thumb poll.

Should we be expecting more from Ange early on at Nottingham Forest?

Up for yes, down for no.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw away to Real Betis may ultimately prove a positive result, given the Spaniards are amongst 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 each of the last 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 eventual successor 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.

Image source, Getty Images

For all the positivity around a point away at Real Betis, there is still one thing missing for Ange Postecoglou. A win.

Forest are only four games in to his tenure following the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo but they are yet to pick up all three points and lost in the Carabao Cup to Championship side Swansea City

That match - and last night's - now make it three straight games where Postecoglou's side have had the lead and not gone on to win the game.

His first game in charge was away at Arsenal after very limited time with his squad and he did rotate against the Swans but the former Spurs boss will be hoping to pick up his first victory soon.

Forest under Ange:

• Arsenal 3-0 Forest - 13 September
• Swansea City 3-2 Forest - 17 September
• Burnley 1-1 Forest - 20 September
• Real Betis 2-2 Forest - 24 September

Over two weeks after taking the job, Postecoglou will finally get his first taste of the City Ground and a home game against Sunderland this weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Right then, here are the first of those stats. Good old xG.

Ange Postecoglou has built a reputation for his aggressive, attacking football that can leave his teams vulnerable at the back.

His principles very quickly won fans over at Spurs but also resulted in his departure from North London.

His opening game against Arsenal aside, the xG from his other three games in charge suggest a shift towards the front foot football we would expect.

Nottingham Forest xG compared to their opponents:

• Arsenal 1.62 v 0.22 Forest
• Swansea City 0.58 v 2.64 Forest
• Burnley 0.85 v 1.21 Forest
• Real Betis 0.41 v 3.27 Forest

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Some early 'Ange' positivity from those lucky enough to be out in Seville watching Forest last night.

We will get to the stats on his start shortly but what I can say is that we are not jealous of those soaking up the sun in southern Spain.

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou won the Europa League last season and there is no doubt he knows how to operate in this competition.

Nottingham Forest are taking their European participation extremely seriously and their new manager feels as though his side were unlucky in their opener: "I should be proud of the players' efforts. It's a difficult place to come, difficult conditions," Postecoglou said after the match.

“I guess the challenge now is to make sure the players don’t drop their heads at all because we’re not getting the victories.

“I’m really disappointed tonight they didn’t get the rewards for the good play, because that fuels it even more, they feel even better about the way things are going.

"I'm just disappointed that the players and supporters don't get the rewards for our efforts. I've just got to make sure they keep their heads up because there's plenty to be positive about and the wins will come."

Robert Earnshaw
Former Wales striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Nottingham Forest probably should've won this match but it's one of those results where you would take any point. It was a brilliant occasion and you're always going to take a point against Real Betis.

I've always watched Spanish football and it is a hard place to go to. Ange Postecoglou even commented that the home fans drive the team to keep going - and it worked last night.

Late equalisers do bring a little feeling of disappointment. The dressing room will have been thinking: 'We were only five minutes away, why didn't we do this or that?' - but overall it is a point gained for Forest.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest were denied a triumphant return to European action when Antony scored an 85th-minute equaliser for Real Betis in the Europa League.

Forest's first match in European competition for 29 years got off to a bad start when DR Congo forward Cedric Bakambu fired the hosts into a 15th-minute lead.

In a highly-entertaining game, Brazil forward Igor Jesus equalised inside four minutes from close range after a clever pass by captain Morgan Gibbs-White.

And Jesus, a £10m signing from Botafogo in July, was celebrating again in the 23rd minute after heading his side into the lead from Douglas Luiz's corner.

Elliot Anderson was outstanding in midfield, while Jesus was a constant threat up front but Forest, who hit the post through Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 33rd minute, were denied victory when former Manchester United player Antony scored late on.

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Thank you very much, Sam.

It is indeed time to shift our focus over to the Europa League and Nottingham Forest's return to European football.

The 1995/96 season was the last time they featured in Europe and I wasn't even born.

Anyway, as we take you through their draw at Real Betis we want those texts to keep coming in.

Is Angeball starting to show at Forest?

Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Right, that's us all EFL Cup-ed out for now.

We're moving on to the Europa League so Nottingham Forest fans - and Ange Postecoglou enthusiasts - this is your time to shine.

I'm off for a much-needed coffee so I'll leave you in the capable hands of Alex Fletcher.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle ended up scoring as many goals in 90 minutes against Bradford as they did in their previous five games in all competitions combined.

It was the first time since April - a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace - they had bagged four goals in a single game and it could have been more as the dominant hosts had 27 shots, 11 efforts on target and 66 touches in the opposition box.

Newcastle face sterner tests ahead yet it still felt a noteworthy night to rebuild confidence in front of goal.

For context, a blunt attack mustered just a single shot on target against Bournemouth and the black-and-whites have only scored three times in their opening five league fixtures.

When it comes to shot conversion (5.6%) and big chance conversion (28.6%), Newcastle have posted some of the worst top-flight returns, while only Aston Villa have scored fewer goals (one).

But Joelinton and Danish forward William Osula scored timely doubles here.

With three goals, the 22-year-old Osula is now the club's top scorer this term, having also found the net against champions Liverpool last month.

Given Yoane Wissa's absence with a knee injury, and record signing Nick Woltemade needing time to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League, it was a welcome performance from Osula, who attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt last month.

"He's very driven," said boss Howe. "Will has got great attitude to his work and his career. He's very ambitious, he wants to play as all players do, but he is now justifying that by his training performances and when he plays on the pitch.

"We have done a lot of work with him and will continue to do that for his benefit to try to get him to be the very best player he can be."

He certainly was, FMac, 62 England caps and seven goals - including the fifth in that 5-1 win - in total for Heskey Snr.

Image source, Getty Images

Joelinton spoke to BBC Radio Newcastle about his performance against Bradford City: "I enjoyed myself - not only because I scored two goals but also because the performance in general was very good. It gives us the confidence to push on.

"It has been a difficult start to the season for me. I hope I can keep going, be injury-free and play my best football.

"Like the Premier League and Champions League, the Carabao Cup is very important for us. We want to attack every competition and win every game."

Click here for more Newcastle United news, insight and analysis

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Bradford City manager Graham Alexander could not help but smile as he reflected on his side's 4-1 Carabao Cup loss at Newcastle United.

"You see the starting team that they put out," he said.

"As soon as we exchanged the teamsheets and we saw Bruno [Guimaraes] bring out the teamsheet, I thought, 'Right, OK, they're taking it properly. Real serious'."

Understandably so.

The holders were not about to underestimate the League One leaders - and did not want their defence of the trophy to end at the third-round stage. Not after a 70-year wait to win major domestic silverware.

Interestingly, Brazilians Guimaraes and Joelinton were the only starters on Wednesday night who also lined up when Newcastle beat Liverpool at Wembley to end that drought back in March.

However, such are the options now at head coach Eddie Howe's disposal, it proved a comfortable night, despite Bradford's efforts.

"The lads are very aware of the strength in depth," said Howe. "So everyone in their position will be looking over their shoulder going, 'If I don't play well today, there's someone else waiting to take my shirt'."