Ange Postecoglou’s first home game as Nottingham Forest head coach ended in a bruising 1-0 defeat as Sunderland, newly returned to the Premier League, survived a second-half barrage to depart the City Ground with all three points. Omar Alderete’s first-half header from a Granit Xhaka free-kick proved decisive, nudging the visitors into the top four and stretching Postecoglou’s wait for a first win to five matches.
The goal arrived amid controversy after Nicolas Dominguez was penalised for simulation in a 50/50 with Trai Hume—a decision that left Forest aggrieved. Yet despite controlling long spells and creating a raft of chances, Forest ran into a superb young goalkeeper in Robin Roefs, while their own profligacy compounded the frustration as boos greeted the final whistle.
The Flashpoint and the Finish
The decisive moment came when Dominguez cleared outside his box and then hit the turf after contact with Hume. Referee Tony Harrington adjudged the Forest midfielder to have simulated, brandishing a yellow card and awarding Sunderland a free-kick. Xhaka floated the delivery and, with Chris Wood momentarily switched off, Alderete stole around the back to plant a header into the net — Sunderland’s first away goal of the season and a statement from the Paraguayan summer signing, recruited from Getafe for £10m.