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Taking over from a club icon was consistently going to be a tough assignment, but Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded to pull off a shrewd strategy after Steve Cooper’s departure: securing victories in his first two fixtures. A great deal is forgotten about the first six months of his tenure, when the team survived just one place above the drop zone and went through a stretch of winning only one time in 10 Premier League games.

The former boss had done the vital task of boosting morale and winning over the fans by defeating Newcastle away and creating enthusiasm by beating a major rival at home, and nobody was calling for aesthetic football. The home stadium was buzzing in late December 2023, and local supporters were not overly concerned that they witnessed only two more victories there for the remainder of the season.

The club fans demand the manager axe after 23 days following European defeat.

Ange Postecoglou is yet to experience a win, becoming the initial Forest head coach in a century to fail to win any of their first six games. There was a poisonous mood at the City Ground on Thursday night as they succumbed to the second-best team in the Danish league. When fans are demanding your sacking after 23 days, it is reasonable to say things are not going well. On the next day there were no intentions to fire Postecoglou but a loss at Newcastle on the weekend could end his position.

Everyone at the organization understood there would be a phase of transition because the Australian’s tactical approach is almost a complete contrast to the one Nuno carefully developed there. The strategy was developing under the former coach but not at the speed the new boss is trying to implement.

Beginning with a series of road matches was consistently going to be a difficult challenge for Postecoglou. Kicking off at Arsenal meant building momentum from the outset was unlikely but suffering a defeat at Swansea in the domestic cup and drawing at Burnley put him on the defensive. The match at Real Betis appeared to be a positive shift because the showing was strong and in line with anticipations regarding Postecoglou’s style. The processes were sound and, if not for a last-minute opposing player goal, takeoff would have commenced.

However Forest are still grounded. If Postecoglou could have been excused for the performances on the road, losing at their stadium to Sunderland and Midtjylland was never part of the thinking. There was a element of explanation in the first home loss: a soft set-piece award that led to the winner and appalling shooting from Forest meant the result went away to the opposing team. Forest had almost two-thirds of the ball and multiple attempts but outscoring an opponent on xG is meaningless.

Ange Postecoglou and Neco Williams will want to turn the team’s results around at the next venue on the upcoming matchday.

There was a hope that once the strikers found their scoring touch, all aspects would be resolved but poor finishing is only a single of the problems confronting Postecoglou. The robust backline built by the previous manager has been taken apart, leaving Postecoglou awaiting a clean sheet. Defending set pieces has been problematic, two of the opponent’s goals coming from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a fast break, the type that were a common feature during Postecoglou’s time at his former club.

Postecoglou was eager to get back to work quickly after being sacked by his previous employers, especially with a European winner’s medal around his neck. He wanted to prove critics wrong and Forest offered that opportunity, with the added bonus of being in the competition he had won in May. The Greek connection with Forest’s proprietor, the club’s chief, helped make the hiring smooth and the manager, in spite of his critics, does have the credentials necessary – but pragmatism was unlikely to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was not sacked for football reasons but for picking a fight with Marinakis that he was not going to win. Ending up in seventh place and taking Forest into continental competition made him extremely beloved. In spite of his complaints, a team able of ending in the top half was put together and plenty of funds was spent. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a defined long-term vision and strategy, which featured a squad that fit Nuno. Now it feels as if a stepdad has moved into the house and the residents are displeased.

Trips to Newcastle and Bournemouth frame the visit of Chelsea in the next three Premier League games, suggesting life is only going to get more difficult. The owner made the selection with his heart and is desperately hoping to avoid another dismissal because removing the manager would be an acknowledgment that he made two terrible decisions in dismissing the former coach and choosing the replacement. Football is one big public approval contest and Nuno began gaining his at St James’ Park. The current manager needs to do the same or he risks losing his for good.