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Replacing a club hero was always going to be a tough task, but Nuno Espírito Santo managed to achieve a smart move after the former coach’s departure: winning his first two matches. A great deal is forgotten about the first six months of Nuno’s time in charge, when the team stayed up just one position above the drop zone and went through a period of winning only once in 10 top-flight games.

Nuno had accomplished the crucial job of boosting morale and gaining the backing of the supporters by beating an opponent away and generating enthusiasm by overcoming Manchester United at their own ground, and no one was calling for style points. The City Ground was rocking in the end of 2023, and local supporters were not overly concerned that they saw only another two victories there for the rest of the season.

The club fans demand the manager dismissal after 23 days following European loss.

Ange Postecoglou is still waiting to taste success, becoming the first Forest head coach in a hundred years to be unable to win any of their opening half-dozen fixtures. There was a toxic mood at the stadium on the recent matchday as they lost to the second-best team in Denmark. When supporters are demanding your sacking after 23 days, it is fair to say the situation are not progressing smoothly. On Friday there were no intentions to dismiss the manager but a loss at Newcastle on Sunday could end his job.

All those at the club accepted there would be a phase of transition because the Australian’s style of play is almost a complete contrast to the one Nuno finely tuned there. The strategy was evolving under the Portuguese but not at the speed Postecoglou is trying to introduce.

Beginning with a series of road matches was always going to be a difficult ask for the manager. Opening at a top side meant building positive energy from the first whistle was improbable but losing at Swansea in the Carabao Cup and drawing at Burnley put him on the defensive. The game at Real Betis appeared to be a positive shift because the performance was strong and in line with anticipations regarding the manager’s philosophy. The processes were sound and, but for a last-minute Antony goal, success would have commenced.

However Forest are still grounded. If Postecoglou could have been excused for the performances on the road, falling at their stadium to Sunderland and Midtjylland was not part of the thinking. There was a degree of explanation in the first home loss: a soft free-kick decision that led to the winner and poor shooting from Forest meant the result went away to the opposing team. Forest had nearly the majority of possession and 22 shots but beating an opponent on expected goals is irrelevant.

Ange Postecoglou and a key player will want to turn the team’s results around at Newcastle on Sunday.

There was a belief that when the forwards regained their scoring touch, everything would be resolved but ineffective finishing is only one of the problems facing the boss. The solid backline constructed by the previous manager has been taken apart, leaving Postecoglou still waiting for a clean sheet. Defending set pieces has been problematic, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals originating from them, and the remaining goal Forest let in was from a fast break, the type that were a common occurrence during Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham.

The coach was eager to return to work promptly after being dismissed by his previous employers, especially with a European honor around his neck. He wanted to show people wrong and Forest presented that opportunity, with the extra incentive of being in the competition he had won in May. The Hellenic connection with Forest’s owner, the club’s chief, facilitated make the hiring smooth and Postecoglou, despite his critics, possesses the credentials required – but pragmatism was not to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was not fired for football causes but for initiating a dispute with Marinakis that he was not going to prevail in. Ending up seventh and guiding Forest into continental competition made him extremely popular. In spite of his complaints, a squad able of finishing in the upper section was put together and a lot of money was spent. After far too much immediate thinking at Forest, they had a defined future plan and approach, which featured a team that suited Nuno. Now it feels as if a new figure has moved into the house and the children are not happy.

Trips to Newcastle and another rival frame the home game of Chelsea in the next three Premier League games, implying life is only going to get more difficult. Marinakis made the appointment with his heart and is desperately wishing to avoid another sacking because firing the manager would be an admission that he made a pair of terrible decisions in dismissing Nuno and choosing the successor. Football is one big popularity contest and Nuno began winning his at St James’ Park. The current manager needs to do the same or he risks losing his permanently.