Ange Postecoglou faced a barrage of "sacked in the morning" chants from Nottingham Forest fans during and after their recent Europa League defeat against FC Midtjylland. The Danish side emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, extending Postecoglou's winless start as Forest manager to six games. This poor run of form has seen the team drop to 17th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone.
Postecoglou, who took over from Nuno Espirito Santo on September 9, acknowledged the chants and responded with a pragmatic outlook. "I heard it. They're fans and they're entitled to their opinion," he stated. He further added, "Nothing surprises me in football anymore". Despite the negativity, Postecoglou remained focused on the task at hand: "We've got to keep going, there's no hiding in the sport we're in, we've got to keep our heads up and we have a game against Newcastle, we have to make sure we are up for that".
The defeat against Midtjylland was particularly disappointing, with Forest conceding poor goals in the first half. Postecoglou lamented his team's inability to defend set-pieces, a recurring issue. "Really disappointing, really, really poor goals we conceded in the first-half and allowed the opposition to get comfortable into the game," he said. "It's been the story of our last few games, key moments let ourselves down". He also questioned the players' desire and determination in crucial moments. "Nothing organisational, just in those moments we have not shown the same desire and determination as the opposition,” Postecoglou stated.
Despite the disappointing results, Postecoglou maintains that the team is on the right track. "I really believe in the process of what we're doing and I don't think we're far away from being a team that eradicates the situation we're in at the moment and gets the results we need," he said. He also acknowledged the fans' frustration and the negative mood surrounding the club. "I get the mood around the place isn't going to be great. I understand people's attitude at the moment, particularly towards me, but I never worry about that," Postecoglou said. "I really believe we're on the right track and I really believe when we get through this period of uncertainty we'll be on a good path. I firmly believe that will happen".
Postecoglou's start at Nottingham Forest marks an unwanted club record, as he is the first permanent manager in 100 years to fail to win any of his first six matches. The pressure is mounting on the Australian manager to turn things around and secure his first victory.
