Ange Postecoglou looks frustrated on the touchlineImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Ange Postecoglou has been in charge at Forest for barely three weeks

At a glance

  • Ousmane Diao and Mads Bech score first-half goals

  • Dan Ndoye briefly levels for Forest

  • Valdemar Byskov adds a late third for the visitors before Chris Wood scores penalty consolation

  • PLAYER RATER

Ange Postecoglou faced a supporter backlash as his winless start as Nottingham Forest head coach continued with a desperate Europa League defeat by Midtjylland.

The visitors gatecrashed Forest's party as European football returned to the City Ground for the first time in 29 years.

Postecoglou has failed to win any of his opening six games since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo last month and home fans chanted that he would be "sacked in the morning" as this game headed towards its closing stages.

Midtjylland's Ousmane Diao and Mads Bech cashed in on poor Forest defending to convert from set-pieces in the first half - underlining the Danes' reputation as dead ball kings.

Dan Ndoye scored in between those goals to briefly haul the hosts level, but Midtjylland - second in the Danish Superliga - were back in front two minutes later.

This was a stuttering performance from Forest - who lost Murillo to injury again - against a physical Midtjylland side who denied Postecoglou's men any momentum and rhythm.

The energetic Elliot Anderson tried to drive Forest forward and Chris Wood had two goals disallowed.

However, Valdemar Byskov added a late third for the visitors and that was the cue for Forest fans to turn their anger on Postecoglou. Wood's stoppage-time penalty pulled a goal back.

Forest fans turn on Postecoglou early

It was supposed to be a glorious return to Europe at the City Ground and started with such hope and excitement.

It ended with Nottingham Forest fans chanting against their new manager, who was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in June, and singing in praise of his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo.

The question before Byskov rolled in Midtjylland's late third was one Forest had not expected to be facing so soon - when does a problem become a crisis?

It was swiftly answered as the home fans turned on Postecoglou and called for his dismissal.

Club owner Evangelos Marinakis, whose relationship breakdown with Nuno led to the change of coach, would not have expected calls for such drastic action so early in Australian Postecoglou's reign.

Postecoglou was only appointed on 9 September and has had limited time on the training ground with his new side.

There have been brief glimpses of the quick, snappy football Postecoglou wants from his team, but during Thursday's Europa League defeat there was little for the simmering City Ground faithful to hold on to.

A trip to Newcastle awaits on Sunday in the Premier League before the sanctuary of the international break.

Given this evidence, Postecoglou must quickly find a way to recover from his wretched start or Forest fans may soon be seeing another new face in the dugout.

Ousmane Diao celebrates his goalImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Ousmane Diao has two Europa League goals for Midtjylland this season

What's next for these teams?

Nottingham Forest: Postecoglou takes his side to Newcastle on Sunday and they return from the international break to host Chelsea on 18 October.

Midtjylland: The Danes travel to title rivals Copenhagen on Sunday before welcoming struggling Vejle after the international break.

Where next?

Player of the match

Number: 8 P. Billing
Average rating 8.26
Number: 11 C. Wood
Average Rating: 5.11
Number: 8 E. Anderson
Average Rating: 4.70
Number: 14 D. Ndoye
Average Rating: 4.21
Number: 3 N. Williams
Average Rating: 4.04
Number: 10 M. Gibbs-White
Average Rating: 4.02
Number: 7 C. Hudson-Odoi
Average Rating: 3.98
Number: 6 I. Sangaré
Average Rating: 3.91
Number: 26 M. Sels
Average Rating: 3.85
Number: 37 N. Savona
Average Rating: 3.75
Number: 31 N. Milenković
Average Rating: 3.67
Number: 19 Igor Jesus
Average Rating: 3.63
Number: 4 Morato
Average Rating: 3.47
Number: 5 Murillo
Average Rating: 3.37

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.