Ange Postecoglou insists his confidence has not “wavered one bit” despite Nottingham Forest slipping to their worst start in a century. The Australian coach finds himself under mounting pressure following a seventh straight winless game, as Forest crashed 2-0 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Supporters had already voiced fury during the midweek Europa League defeat to Midtjylland, with calls for Postecoglou’s dismissal echoing around the City Ground. But the 59-year-old was unflinching when asked if he regretted taking on the task. “I knew it was a big challenge walking in,” he said. “That’s what it is and there’s nothing wrong with that. The belief I had going into the job hasn’t wavered one bit.”
For Postecoglou, this is another career-defining storm. Just five months ago, he was sacked by Tottenham despite lifting the Europa League. Now, he is trying to impose his front-foot, high-possession football on a side that overachieved last season under Nuno Espirito Santo with a pragmatic approach that secured seventh place and European football for the first time in three decades. The contrast could not be starker.
Newcastle Exploit Fragile Forest
Newcastle, themselves struggling before this clash, seized the opportunity. Bruno Guimaraes, often criticised for a quiet start to the campaign, produced a thunderous strike from 20 yards in the 58th minute to break the deadlock. He then forced a penalty after pressing Elliot Anderson into a costly error inside the Forest box.
Nick Woltemade, fresh from a move from Stuttgart, smashed the spot-kick into the top corner for his fourth goal in as many weeks. The German’s form has been a rare bright spark for Eddie Howe’s team, who had previously won just once in their opening six games. For Forest, the defeat leaves them 17th—perilously close to the relegation zone.
The Weight of Expectations
Owner Evangelos Marinakis took a gamble appointing Postecoglou after dismissing Nuno. The Greek shipping magnate admired Postecoglou’s expansive philosophy, but fans are restless. Forest are out of the League Cup, have collected just one point from two Europa League fixtures, and now sit with five losses and two draws from seven Premier League matches.
Postecoglou argues the performances tell a different story. “The results don’t reflect the way we’ve embraced what we want to do,” he insisted. “But the results will come. In the meantime, it’s a struggle and it’s a fight. And there’s nothing wrong with that.”
His words carry echoes of his earlier battles in Scotland and Japan, where slow starts eventually gave way to dominant seasons. But the Premier League is far less forgiving.
Haaland’s Relentless March Continues
While Forest’s struggles dominate headlines, Erling Haaland reminded everyone why Manchester City remain the biggest threat to Arsenal’s title defence. The Norwegian powerhouse netted the only goal in a 1-0 win over Brentford, bullying his way past defenders and finishing coolly inside nine minutes.
It was his 18th strike in just 11 appearances for club and country this season. Haaland’s numbers are once again bending belief, with his direct goal involvement outstripping most Premier League sides’ entire tallies.
But the win came with a cost. Rodri, City’s midfield metronome and the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, was forced off in tears with a hamstring injury. Having only recently returned from a long-term ACL layoff, his absence could severely dent Pep Guardiola’s tactical balance. City still climbed to fifth, three points behind leaders Arsenal, keeping the title race wide open.
Everton Snap Palace’s Record
At the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton pulled off one of the shocks of the weekend by ending Crystal Palace’s 19-match unbeaten run. The Eagles dominated early and went ahead through Daniel Munoz after Ismaila Sarr’s clever assist. But David Moyes’ Everton showed grit.
Iliman Ndiaye equalised from the penalty spot after Beto was fouled clumsily by Maxence Lacroix. Then fortune favoured the Toffees when Munoz’s attempted clearance rebounded off Jack Grealish, on loan from City, into the net. The scrappy finish handed Grealish his first Everton goal and secured a 2-1 victory.
Moyes praised his side’s resilience: “Palace should have been out of sight, 3-0 up, but we stuck at it. We got our reward.” The defeat denied Palace a chance to go second, exposing the toll of their midweek Conference League win in Kyiv.
Aston Villa Hit Their Stride
Aston Villa continued their resurgence with a 2-1 win over Burnley, securing their fourth victory in 11 days across all competitions. Donyell Malen, often criticised for inconsistency, struck twice in confident fashion. His first came after latching onto Boubacar Kamara’s through ball, the second from a composed finish following Morgan Rogers’ setup.
Lesley Ugochukwu pulled one back for Burnley, but Vincent Kompany’s men remain stuck in the relegation zone. Villa, meanwhile, are beginning to look like genuine contenders for European qualification again under Unai Emery’s demanding structure.
Wolves Rooted to the Bottom
At Molineux, Wolves’ misery deepened as they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Brighton. Despite flashes of promise, Gary O’Neil’s side sit bottom, with a toothless attack and defensive lapses costing them repeatedly. Brighton’s ability to snatch points late underlines the difference between a side with confidence and one playing under the shadow of relegation fears.
Postecoglou’s Fork in the Road
As the Premier League heads into the international break, attention inevitably turns back to Postecoglou. Forest’s trajectory is alarming: a team that soared under Nuno now looks bereft of momentum. Yet Postecoglou refuses to yield. “We don’t want everything handed to us on a platter,” he said. “You’ve gotta fight for things. I’ve fought for things my whole life. This is just another fight that I love to be in the middle of.”
For Marinakis, the decision is looming. Stick with a manager known for turning adversity into triumph, or act before the situation worsens. For Forest supporters, history offers both hope and warning. The club’s golden years were born from bold choices, but their darkest periods came from impatience and misjudgment.
The next month could decide whether Postecoglou’s tenure is remembered as a brave gamble that paid off, or another chapter in Forest’s long struggle to find stability in the unforgiving world of the Premier League.
