Sean Dyche stood on the touchline, savoring the moment as Nottingham Forest fans belted out “Mull of Kintyre.” Their new manager took in the atmosphere at the City Ground, a scene reminiscent of the club’s glory days. The iconic anthem, adopted by Forest in 1978, echoed through the stadium as Dyche celebrated an opening Europa League win against Porto.
It has been 35 years since Dyche left Forest as a young professional to join Chesterfield. Now, he returns as the club’s third manager of the season, hoping to restore the club’s former glory. “I’d waited a long time for that moment. As a young person here in ’87, all I wanted to do was wear the shirt,” Dyche reflected. “To come back as the manager is super pleasing. I’ve learned in life sometimes you have to slow your thinking down and take it in.”
A Tactical Shift and Key Performances
Despite the absence of Chris Wood, who is nursing a knee injury, Dyche’s tactical adjustments paid off. Wood, a prolific scorer under Dyche at Burnley, remains a significant threat, but his absence led to a reshuffle. Igor Jesus stepped in, replacing Taiwo Awoniyi, and his performance was pivotal. Dropping deep, Jesus disrupted Porto’s defense, ultimately scoring his third Europa League goal from the penalty spot.
Dyche opted for a back four formation, with Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic providing stability. Elliot Anderson and Douglas Luiz anchored the midfield, allowing Morgan Gibbs-White to exploit forward spaces. The wide play of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye, though occasionally lacking in end product, added width and dynamism to Forest’s attack.
Building on Past Success
Dyche’s return to a more pragmatic style, reminiscent of Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure, appeared to suit the team. This approach, contrasting with Ange Postecoglou’s high-tempo style, brought immediate results. Forest secured their first clean sheet in 21 matches, a feat last achieved in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in April.
“I can finally breathe tonight,” Gibbs-White expressed to TNT Sports. “It’s been a difficult couple of months with all the changes and the bad performances, so it was good to get our first win in eight or nine games. The gaffer said when he came in that last season we had a real identity, and he wants to build on top of that.”
“You can feel the morale. It feels a lot more positive and it needs to stay like that. That’s credit to the manager. He has instilled that in us, and we have to keep up that mentality.” – Morgan Gibbs-White
Fan Support and Historical Parallels
The last European game at the City Ground saw fans chanting “sacked in the morning” at Postecoglou, signaling the end of his brief tenure. Dyche, however, has struck a chord with the supporters. Pre-game, he tapped into the club’s rich history, recalling memories of Brian Clough’s era and the legendary dog, Del Boy.
All of Dyche’s backroom staff have connections to the club, including Ian Woan and Steve Stone, who were part of the Forest team that last won in Europe in 1995. This familiarity has fostered a strong bond with the fans, who responded with fervent support for the new manager. Fireworks lit up the sky as fans sang “Forest are back,” marking a new chapter under Dyche’s leadership.
“When you are on the side you don’t hear every word, you hear a noise and you know if it’s a positive noise or a negative noise. I’m not here to judge or question anything, just deliver what I can to the job. It’s nice when they support you from the off, winning helps.” – Sean Dyche
Looking Ahead
As Nottingham Forest embarks on this new era, Dyche’s immediate success has set a positive tone. The win against Porto not only provided a morale boost but also demonstrated the potential of Dyche’s tactical approach. With the backing of the fans and a squad eager to prove themselves, the future looks promising for Forest.
Dyche’s challenge will be to maintain this momentum and build on the foundations laid by his predecessors. As the season progresses, his ability to adapt and inspire will be crucial in steering Nottingham Forest back to the heights of European football.
