Ange-ball sparks early but ruthlessness eludes Forest in Turf Moor stalemate

Nottingham Forest flew out under the lights and the rain, Neco Williams smashing them ahead inside two minutes, yet a 1-1 draw at Burnley leaves Ange Postecoglou still waiting for his first win in charge. Jaidon Anthony levelled on 20 minutes when his scuffed effort was dragged over the line by Oleksandr Zinchenko amid a goalmouth scramble.

Forest produced passages of slick, expansive football and finished the game on the front foot, but Martin Dubravka’s heroics and some last‑ditch Burnley defending kept them at bay. Progress was evident; the killer touch, for now, was missing.

Williams’ thunderbolt and a missed chance to pull away

The perfect start arrived from an inswinging corner as Burnley failed to clear and Williams crashed a thumping, deflected finish into the roof of the net. It encapsulated the aggressive tempo Postecoglou demands and briefly quieted Turf Moor’s roar.

But Forest could not turn that platform into a cushion. Hartman’s burst from the left and ensuing delivery sowed chaos; when the ball broke, Anthony’s tame effort headed goalwards and Zinchenko’s desperate attempt to intervene only nudged it over the line. Matz Sels was left stranded as parity returned.

Patterns under Postecoglou, chances without the finish

The visitors’ combinations sharpened as the half wore on. A flowing move teed up Dilane Bakwa for a rasping strike that Dubravka fingertipped away. Another one‑touch sequence presented Chris Wood with a presentable opening, but the finish lacked conviction and was gratefully gathered by the goalkeeper before Wood departed to boos from his former club’s fans.

There were blips—Burnley’s transitions and Loum Tchaouna’s set‑piece threat, including a free‑kick off the bar—but Forest increasingly imposed their structure. Postecoglou emphasized afterwards that the team already looks transformed from a week ago, even if phases of lost control still need ironing out.

Late surge meets a keeper in form

Postecoglou’s bench added force. Igor Jesus’ header drew a full‑stretch save from Dubravka, Williams’ low volley was smothered, and when Arnaud Kalimuendo arrived at the back post, Quilindschy Hartman produced a decisive block. In stoppage time Morgan Gibbs‑White’s tame effort summed up a night when Forest’s pressure lacked the final punch.

At the other end, Sels stayed alert, thwarting Anthony soon after the interval as the game’s open feel persisted. For long spells late on, however, Forest controlled territory and tempo without delivering the winner their approach play threatened.

Ange’s verdict and the road ahead

“It was important we didn’t lose today,” Postecoglou reflected, pointing to controlled phases, a slew of chances and a side that looks markedly different from seven days ago. The frustration was in the moments when control slipped and Burnley were allowed to transition.

Context matters. Forest were without Ola Aina and Murillo and arrive here after a midweek cup collapse at Swansea. The draw makes it three without a win under Postecoglou—five overall—though they climb to 14th and the stylistic imprint is clear.

Now comes the chance to turn performances into victories: a Europa League trip to Real Betis marks Forest’s first European tie in 30 years, before Postecoglou’s first home league game at the City Ground against Sunderland. The search for that first win goes on, but the direction of travel looks promising.