Nottingham Forest

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest go in search of a third consecutive league win when they entertain a Brighton side who lost 7-0 when they visited the City Ground in February. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match (14:05 GMT).

Forest on fire in front of goal

Back-to-back victories mean Forest begin the weekend outside the bottom three, with the manner of their 3-0 win at Liverpool suggesting Sean Dyche's side have more than enough quality to steer clear of a relegation fight and achieve mid-table security.

This will be Dyche's fifth Premier League game in charge, equalling the short-lived reign of predecessor Ange Postecoglou. So far, it is an appointment which has delivered a dramatic improvement.

Forest took just one point from the 15 available under Postecoglou, but have already claimed seven from a possible 12 with Dyche at the helm.

Perhaps more surprisingly, goals are flowing freely under the Englishman. The Reds have scored eight times in his four league matches, including three against both Leeds and Liverpool. The last time they won three Premier League games in a row whilst scoring three goals in each victory was 30 years ago.

How resilient Albion learnt from Forest thrashing

Brighton marked Fabian Hurzeler's 50th Premier League game in charge with another come-from-behind victory against Brentford, though the head coach had to watch from the stands because of a suspension.

The 32-year-old will be back in the dugout this weekend at the City Ground, the scene of a 7-0 defeat last season - the Seagulls' heaviest league loss since 1958.

It is to Hurzeler's credit that Brighton responded to that thrashing by winning their next six matches in all competitions, eventually finishing the season strongly in eighth place. The German said this week that while the mauling from Forest was a "terrible defeat", the lessons learned actually helped the club's long-term development.

Resilience certainly appears to be in Albion's DNA right now, with the club having won 10 points from losing positions this term, the highest figure in the top flight prior to the latest round of fixtures.

Danny Welbeck was on target as Brighton recovered from a goal down last weekend, taking his tally to seven in this season's Premier League. The evergreen 35-year-old scored 10 top-flight goals last term, the first time he has reached double figures, but is already well on the way to beating that figure.

Image source, PA Media

Sean Dyche has said Nottingham Forest's improved run of results has been delivered from a base of being "strong, fit and organised" while also allowing his players "freedom to play".

Forest had gone 10 games without a win and had not kept a clean sheet in their first 11 matches of the season when Dyche became the club's third boss of the campaign on 21 October.

Since then, they have won four out of seven matches, shutting out the opposition on four occasions.

At the other end, they have scored three goals in each of their past three games, all of them victories - including a superb 3-0 success against champions Liverpool at Anfeld in their most recent league outing.

Asked about the key principles required to improve a team that has been struggling defensively, Dyche told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Strong, fit and organised - it's a simple, logical viewpoint.

"The late John Duncan [Dyche's former manager when he was a player at Chesterfield] used to say there are only three things that can happen in football; you've got it, they've got it and nobody's got it, and he said if you get your principles around your coaching around those things, you won't go far wrong.

"Strong is different nowadays, it's not strong as in going around crunching into tackles, it's having that real competitive edge. That's certainly been on show since we got here.

"We stepped away from it in the one game where we physically were miles off at Bournemouth, but in all the other games I've been pleased with those guidelines of 'strong, fit and organised'.

"And from that, [giving players] the freedom to go and play. We want players to play with freedom.

"We know we've got talent here and we know we've got players still developing into the Premier League, but we give them a platform to work from. We make it clear, that base we work from, but then allow that freedom to come from that base."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Radio 5 Live's Premier League Kick-Off from 19:00 GMT and on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Long-serving commentator Clive Tyldesley has been recalling his early days as a reporter on Nottingham Forest, and revealed the exacting standards of legendary manager Brian Clough.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Sacked in the Morning podcast, Tyldesley recalled his first journey with Forest and how Clough ensured he looked the part.

"It would sound pedantic in 2025!" he said. "It was on the train, the first time I had travelled with the team -the first day of the season on a beautiful August morning - and I arrived first at Nottingham station at 09:00.

"I had my ticket and I was on the train but around 09:15, Cloughie appeared, not in his tracksuit or rugby shirt, but because it was a matchday, Forest used to wear blue blazers with a tie.

"I looked like I had just won the junior medal at a golf club, I had a double-breasted blazer, buttoned-down shirt and shiny shoes. I was really smart, but I didn't have a tie on.

"Cloughie came past and said: 'Good morning, young man, you are very welcome to travel with the Nottingham Forest official party, but when you do, you wear a tie, please'. And I said: 'Sorry, Mr Clough'. But he didn't move.

"Then, I looked up again, and he said: 'Listen, you are very welcome to travel with the Nottingham Forest official party, but when you do, you wear a tie'.

"'As soon as we get to Euston, I'll get a tie,' I said.

"'Young man, you are very welcome to travel with the Nottingham Forest official party, but when you do, you wear a tie.'

"And he put his hands in his pocket and put a £10 note on the table I was sitting at and said: 'Train leaves in 15 minutes'. So literally, I had to run off the platform, and fortunately, the station in Nottingham is quite close to the city centre, and there was a gents outfit that was opening for the day. I threw the £10 note at the guy and pulled a tie from the rack.

"Now I was sweating, but I put it on. He came past again an hour into the journey and said: 'Very smart'."

Listen on BBC Sounds

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Sean Dyche has called on Nottingham Forest to maintain their standards as his reign gathers pace.

A 3-0 Europa League win over Malmo on Thursday maintained Forest's momentum and extended their unbeaten run to five games.

It is also the first time the club have won three straight matches since the turn of the year.

Forest, who beat Liverpool on Saturday, host Brighton on Sunday looking to pull further clear of the Premier League's relegation zone with Dyche, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in October, seeing the changes.

"I do [see them] at the training ground, but that doesn't guarantee a result," he said. "I've spoken endlessly to the players about our good habits on the training ground - they pay you back.

"So far, that's working. We've got to maintain standards and I think the players are learning that, or certainly my standards and the way I want to work.

"They're adapting to that and they're doing a good job. But the last one doesn't guarantee the next one and I also remind them of that. It's not that easy, football.

"So you've got to consistently work hard at what you do every day and everything counts. They are developing into a group of players who are beginning to understand that more and more."

Full commentary of Nottingham Forest v Brighton on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday from 14:05 GMT

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Nottingham Forest youngster Jimmy Sinclair said it was a "dream come true" as he made his professional debut against Malmo.

Sinclair, 19, came on in the 84th minute to replace James McAtee in their 3-0 win over the Swedish club.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham on the experience, Sinclair said: "It's an incredible night, personally a dream come true.

"I think for the fans and the club, it was an incredible night. It was a really good team performance and many more to come.

"It was another dream come true to just be on a bench for a game like this. To get the call and be involved was a special moment."

Listen to his full interview here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts on Nottingham Forest's Europa League match against Malmo.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: Overall, a really dominant performance. We bullied them in the first half and could have been three or four up by half-time. Second half was a little more subdued. Really pleased for Yatesy getting his first goal in Europe and nice to see Kalimuendo get his first goal - hopefully he can push on now.

Lee: With three wins in a row, Forest are hitting their stride and putting the start of the season behind them. You've got to fancy us for the later stages of the Europa League.

Steve: Forest won't have an easier game for the rest of the season. In fact, they've played tougher pre-season games. Having said that, games have to be won and the squad did just that. Good to see Callum Hudson-Odoi and James McAtee given time on the field, although McAtee needs more of the same to get up to speed. Overall, a commanding squad performance.

Barry: I was at the European Cup final against Malmo when we squeezed a 1-0 victory, so it is with relief that a comfortable 3-0 win should see the Reds through to the next round.

Joel: In a word, comfortable. Never really felt threatened. Good game to get some minutes into the guys who aren't starting in the league and some young prospects. Good to see Kalimuendo get a goal. Hopefully that'll give his confidence a boost.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest welcomed their heroes of 1979 before Thursday's Europa League win over Malmo.

The squad - and some from Malmo - reunited 46 years since winning the club's first European Cup against the Swedes.

They retained the title 12 months later, etching their names into club folklore even further, and gathered at the City Ground on Thursday to watch the class of 2025-26.

What they saw was one of the most comfortable victories Sean Dyche's side are likely to have all season.

Winning the Europa League was a goal for the club at the start of the season and after a turbulent period they have now settled under Dyche, both domestically and in Europe.

A top-eight place - and automatic qualification for the last 16 - is just two points away so cannot be ruled out.

Trips to Utrecht and Braga await before a final league-phase game at home to Ferencvaros in January.

After four wins from seven games under Dyche, two in Europe, Forest have momentum for the first time this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche, speaking to TNT Sports after his side's 3-0 victory over Malmo in the Europa League: "I'm very pleased. I thought we were excellent defensively. They didn't really lay a glove on us, which was credit to the back five really - the goalkeeper and the back four did a great job. That sets the tone then for the performance. It was a bit of a slow start, but they camped in and that can be hard to break down.

"Overall, I'm really pleased with the players. We had some coming back into fitness like Callum [Hudson-Odoi], and I thought [Ryan] Yates was brilliant. I'm really pleased with the squad mentality. It was really clear tonight and we're going to need that going forwards.

"I'm pleased for the crowd as well. The European campaign is really important to them and us. It's great when players are changed and they are still delivering performances - that's really key for squad mentality. We have got strength in depth and we need it because of the injuries.

"Consistency is a big thing that we're working on during training sessions and something we want to bring in - but that's on everyone, not just the starting XI. I've been really impressed with that."

On Yates scoring on every day of the week for Forest now: "I didn't know that, but fair play! He is a real club man - everyone knows that. He is a credit to himself, with his professionalism and the way he works for us. He has been first class so I'm really pleased for him."

Hear more from Dyche on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Forest have won three consecutive games, having won just two of their first 15 matches this season (D5 L8).

Nottingham Forest have made enquiries with Polish club Pogon Szczecin regarding the availability of forward Adrian Przyborek, 18. (Teamtalk), external

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

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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Forest's performance

Come back on Friday for a selection of your replies

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche makes seven changes from their impressive 3-0 win at Liverpool.

John Victor starts in goal as Zach Abbott and Morato are drafted into defence in place of Nicolo Savona and Neco Williams.

Ryan Yates captains the side with James McAtee, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Callum Hudson-Odoi also recalled with Morgan Gibbs-White, who was a doubt, not included.

Nottingham Forest XI: Victor, Morato, Murillo, Milenkovic, Abbott, Sangare, Dominguez, Yates, McAtee, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo

Subs: Sels, Williams, Anderson, Jesus, Ndoye, Boly, Savona, Whitehall, Thompson, Sinclair

Malmo, who finished sixth in the Swedish Allsvenskan, play their first game since their league ended on 9 November.

Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen drops to the bench as Melker Ellborg starts, while ex-West Ham, Celtic and Stoke forward Sead Haksabanovic starts while former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjonsen's son Daniel is up front.

Malmo are second bottom of the 36-team Europa League table with a point from their opening four games.

Malmo XI: Ellborg, Stryger, Djuric, Jansson, Rosler, Skogmar, Johnsen, Haksabanovic, Busanello, Gudjohnsen, Bolin.

Subs: Olsen, Olsson, Karlsson, Ekong, Lewicki, Christiansen, Vecchia, Busuladzic, Botheim, Soumah, Berg, Lundbergh.

There are 36 games in the Europa League and Conference League on Thursday, including three involving Premier League clubs, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Europa League: Aston Villa v Young Boys (17:45)

• Europa League: Nottingham Forest v Malmo

• Conference League: Strasbourg v Crystal Palace

Kick-off times 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest's historic European Cup triumph over Malmo echoes through the ages, says two-time winning captain John McGovern.

Forest host Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday in a repeat of the 1979 European Cup final.

Trevor Francis' winner earned a 1-0 victory in Munich, just two years after Forest had been in the second tier of English football.

Twelve months later, Brian Clough's side retained the trophy, beating Hamburg 1-0, and McGovern believes their success still makes its mark 46 years on.

"It gives you a warm feeling inside, that you are recognised for something that was so long ago," he told BBC Sport.

"It used to be: 'I used to go and see you' - now it's: 'My dad used to go and see you'. Once it gets to the stage of: 'My grandad used to go and see you', I better think about taking things easy then.

"You didn't know [the scale of what they achieved]. There was no blanket coverage of matches - there was coverage but not to the extent there is now. It's like show business."

So far this season, Forest are 23rd in the Europa League table after beating Porto and drawing 0-0 at Sturm Graz in their past two games. Meanwhile, Malmo have just one point and are second bottom of the 36-team table.

A finish between ninth and 24th would earn Forest a play-off spot as they look to qualify for the last 16.

At the start of the season, winning the Europa League was a realistic target, for both former managers Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou, and McGovern feels they still have a chance.

"You have to go on the present form, we have come through a fantastic win against Liverpool and the players look confident enough," he said.

"[Sean Dyche] inherited a group for players who, in anyone's parlance, are a really good set of lads. He has retained that and tried to educate them a little more about how he'd like them to play.

"He has got them to listen to him and they are playing together as a side. The commitment is there."

Nottingham Forest are determined to hold on to England midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, and will reject any bids for him during the January transfer window. (Mail), external

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

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Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi feels connections in the team were "a bit scratched" before Sean Dyche's arrival and praised him for the "amazing job" he has done mending those.

After an impressive 2024-25 campaign in which they secured European football for the first time in nearly 30 years, it has been a difficult few months for the club as they struggled for results.

However, Dyche - the third person to take charge this season - has helped to steady the ship and the Reds are now on a four-match unbeaten run, including a 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend.

They will be looking to extend that when they host Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday.

"Sean and his staff have come in and done an amazing job," Hudson-Odoi said.

"You can tell the energy around the group has changed and everybody's just working as hard as we can to get the best possible results.

"The bond and strength that we have had before will come back, and you can tell we are wanting to fight for every game we play in.

"A lot has changed. I think it was a bit scratched a while ago. The group has reconnected very well and everybody is just focusing on doing what we know best - which is playing football and enjoying football.

"It's just the connections that were a bit lost for a while, but now I think everything's connecting back nicely.

"Everybody's working hard to do the right things and hopefully keep getting good results."

Hear more from Hudson-Odoi on BBC Sounds

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against Malmo at the City Ground (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Morgan Gibbs-White will not be available for Thursday's match as they are "just settling an issue with him", but so far it is "nothing too serious". Ola Aina, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Dilane Bakwa are also still out.

• Having been with the squad for a few weeks now, the Forest boss said he is "good with the general direction" they are going in but there is "still more to come from what we can do as a collective". He added: "They're taking in a lot of information with different managers and adapting to each different person as it comes. So far they've adapted to me and my staff, and they've been very accepting of the work that's getting done."

• On if they can take confidence from Sunday's win at Anfield: "It just furthers the belief in the group and each other, which is important, and hopefully in ourselves. I've shared with them openly - we can only guide in what we think is the right direction. It's down to them and our trust in them to deliver. They're certainly doing that on a daily basis and in the games, and I've been very happy with that."

• He added: "There was a real connection here. I think everyone knew that last season. When I got here it wasn't broken - I just said it was stretched is all and sometimes that happens. But I think there's a reconnection, and of course results help that massively."

• Asked about balancing the Premier League and Europe, Dyche said it was "tougher" because it is the first year back, adding: "The beginning of this season should have been a reminder of how challenging it is [in the top flight]. The Premier League is still massively important to this football club, without a doubt. When you look at the Europa League just from the point of being in Europe again, it's brilliant for the history of the club and revisiting the history."

• Despite noise around the club this season, Dyche feels "most Forest fans underneath that know the work that's been done by the ownership group since they came" and "you can't forget the whole journey" because of one difficult period.

• On what his memory is of Forest's famous night against Malmo in 1979, when they won the European Cup: "I remember the goal - everyone remembers that one. My parents having it on TV and me watching it... But I think the club are doing proud - both sides are - for a remembrance of a big day for both clubs."

Hear more from Dyche on BBC Sounds

Long-serving commentator Clive Tyldesley joins this week's Sacked In The Morning podcast from BBC Radio Scotland and he recounts the first time he ever travelled with Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest.

You can hear a special tale about Clough so insisting Tyldesley wore a tie that he gave him cash to help him buy one.

Check out the full story

Nottingham Forest have identified Brighton's 20-year-old English midfielder Jack Hinshelwood among a number of possible January transfer targets. (Mail), external

Meanwhile, Everton boss David Moyes wants to hang on to English midfielder James Garner amid interest from Forest, Manchester United and Aston Villa in the 24-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season. (Talksport), external

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

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Former Nottingham Forest winger and current assistant manager Ian Woan has been speaking about his history with the club's boss Sean Dyche.

Woan told the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast that their friendship is very close and "well outside the football realm", adding: "I first met him in 1990 [at Forest] when we were both in digs for six months. I then bought a house and the gaffer lived with me for five or six years. It was good times.

"Stoney [Steve Stone, fellow assistant to Dyche] also came to live with us for about a month but we couldn't have the three of us together - it was too much carnage!

"We have been best mates since then and I was his best man. It is an amazing kind of relationship. It is different now, but you never lose the fact of who the gaffer is. There is a lot of plusses and the trust there is incredible. He knows if he isn't around, he can delegate to me and Steve. The word is still getting out and he can trust it."

Want to hear more from Woan? Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Defeating this season's Liverpool is not quite the same as defeating the 2024-25 all-conquering Liverpool. Although this season's Nottingham Forest are not quite last campaign's swashbuckling Nottingham Forest.

But still, back-to-back wins at Anfield for the first time since 1963. Our biggest ever win at Anfield. Our first clean sheet since April.

None of these things are to be sniffed at.

Sean Dyche was brought in to fix a broken club and the remit was clear: organise the defence, stop conceding from set pieces, start scoring from set pieces, win games, keep clean sheets, score goals… a pretty basic target, but Forest were failing at all of them.

Obviously it is still early days, but the confidence Saturday's historic win brings will make a big difference. The willingness to defend with all their might, to not even concede a yellow card, to stick to the gameplan and to comfortably attack at will is precisely where we need to be - the rest will follow.

There are clearly issues to resolve - which will start on Thursday in the Europa League reunion with Malmo - but balancing the squad in league and cup, getting the new players' form and understanding up to speed, and developing the tactics are things that will come with time.

For now, we can believe that Dyche will deliver results and we can start looking up the table, rather than over our shoulder. The bottom three might only be just behind us but, as I said last week, a few wins and other results going our way will dramatically affect the table.

It is just that nobody foresaw Liverpool sliding down while we picked up momentum.

The City Ground can be a fortress once again.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external