Wasteful Forest floored by contentious call as Postecoglou’s home debut ends in boos

Nottingham Forest controlled the ball, created the better chances and roused the City Ground after the break — but a disputed first-half free-kick and a string of squandered openings left Ange Postecoglou still searching for his first win. Sunderland escaped with a 1-0 victory thanks to Omar Alderete’s header from Granit Xhaka’s delivery, prolonging Forest’s winless start under their new head coach to five games.

The winner arrived in contentious fashion when Nicolas Dominguez, back in the side for the first time since May, was booked for simulation following a 50/50 with Trai Hume. From the free-kick, Alderete punished Forest’s lapse. Despite 65% possession, 22 attempts and long spells of pressure, Forest could not find a finish, and frustration spilled into boos at full-time.

A decision that stung — and a detail that decided it

Dominguez appeared to clear his lines and then be caught on the follow-through, only for referee Tony Harrington to caution him for simulation and award Sunderland a free-kick. Xhaka’s floated cross followed and, with Chris Wood losing track of the danger round the back, Alderete rose to head in the decisive goal — a bitter pill given the nature of the award.

Postecoglou’s response mixed grievance and responsibility. “It wasn’t a free-kick,” he said to television, before adding that Forest should have defended the situation regardless: “Even if the ref’s made an absolute howler, we can still defend the free-kick better.” It summed up a day when fine margins and one set piece overshadowed much of the good Forest produced.

Pressure without payoff

Forest’s approach looked markedly more front-foot: 65% of the ball, 90% pass accuracy and a steady stream of chances. Dan Ndoye saw a deflection whistle past the post, while Wood sent headers off target after fine deliveries from Neco Williams. Elliot Anderson curled just over as the first half tilted Forest’s way.

The second half became a siege. Morgan Gibbs-White arrived at the interval, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus later added to the mix. Omari Hutchinson forced a sharp save from Robin Roefs and Anderson drew another from distance. Wood’s best sights of goal were snuffed out by an outstanding near-post stop and then a glancing header wide — moments that encapsulated a wasteful afternoon as Roefs repeatedly stood tall.

Postecoglou’s imprint, patience tested

Forest’s possession game is already obvious under Postecoglou, who made five changes from the side that nearly won away to Real Betis in midweek before settling for a draw. The ball moved more crisply, the full-backs delivered quality and the substitutes injected urgency. In most metrics but the only one that counts, Forest were on top.

Yet the missing piece is conversion. “We can’t create any more chances than we did, but it’s goals that win matches,” Postecoglou reflected. He accepted the supporters’ reaction — “Fans have every right to be disappointed” — while insisting the dressing room shares it and that the task now is to “unlock that last bit” in front of goal.

City Ground mood and the road ahead

A first home outing under a new manager should bring optimism; instead, boos met the final whistle as Forest slipped to 16th with just one win from six. The performance offered substance — territory, tempo and chances — but the result heaps pressure on a group adjusting to new demands and a new style.

There is little time to dwell. Forest host FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday before travelling to Newcastle for their next league assignment. If they can pair the control shown here with sharper finishing, the first win of the Postecoglou era should follow quickly — but the wait, and the frustration, goes on for now.