Sean Dyche Makes ‘Dig’ at Ange Postecoglou Tactics Following First Forest Win

Sean Dyche Makes ‘Dig’ at Ange Postecoglou Tactics Following First Forest Win

Sean Dyche appeared to take a subtle swipe at Ange Postecoglou after winning his first match in charge of Nottingham Forest.

Dyche was appointed as Forest’s new manager following their heavy 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea last Saturday, replacing Postecoglou, who lasted just 39 days in the job without recording a single victory.

The new boss made an immediate impact, guiding Forest to a 2-0 win over Porto in the Europa League on Thursday — their first triumph in the competition this season.

Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 19th minute, before a VAR review led to a second penalty late in the game, which Igor Jesus confidently converted to seal the result.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Gibbs-White reflected on Forest’s poor start to the season and praised the team’s improved display under Dyche.

Dyche also spoke to TNT Sports, where interviewer Michail Antonio noted a clear shift in playing style from Postecoglou’s approach.

“It’s a start — there’s a lot more to come, but it’s a start,” Dyche said. “The shape was good, especially defensively. We knew Porto like to build up slowly, so we had to stay organised and pick our moments to press.”

He continued:

“With the ball, I told the lads to mix things up — stretch the play when possible, go long at times, but also find the spaces in between. We’ve got talented players, and tonight we found a good balance.”

Dyche then hinted at a different fitness philosophy compared to his predecessor:

“They’ll get fitter and sharper as we work. That’s not a criticism of anyone before me — it’s just how I like my teams to be. They’ll adapt to our methods, but it will take a bit of time.”

When asked how his use of Igor Jesus differed from Postecoglou’s, Dyche added:

“I don’t like to question other managers — everyone has their own way. Personally, I prefer a mixed style of football. I’m not a purist; I like to stretch the game, play long when needed, and create space for our good footballers. That’s what we tried to do in the first half, and it worked well.”

Dyche and his Forest side will now aim to end their three-game Premier League losing streak when they face Bournemouth on Sunday.