Ange Postecoglou’s tenure at Nottingham Forest is under immediate threat after a 2–0 loss to Newcastle United on Sunday, leaving the manager still without a win in his first seven games in charge. The defeat came as fans chanted that he would be “sacked in the morning,” and the results add fresh urgency to the meeting Postecoglou expects to have with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Newcastle secured the victory with a curling strike from Bruno Guimarães and a second goal by Nick Woltemade from the penalty spot. The performance amplified frustrations around Forest, who have conceded an average of more than two goals per match under Postecoglou’s watch.
Despite the pressure, Postecoglou refused to buckle. “If people want to assess me after three and a half weeks … there’s nothing I can do about that,” he said. He admitted the road has been tough but insisted he was in it for the fight: “It’s a struggle? So what? … I love the challenge of taking this club to where it needs to be.”
According to pundit Danny Murphy, Postecoglou had set up his squad pragmatically to shore up defensive vulnerabilities that have haunted them. While Forest remained compact and defended resolutely in stretches, they offered little offensively. Their xG (expected goals) stood at only 0.29.
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Forest’s troubles are not limited to this loss. Earlier, they conceded a goal from a counterattack off their own corner in a 3–2 Europa League defeat to Midtjylland. During that game, some fans directed chants accusing him of being dismissed by morning. Postecoglou acknowledged hearing them. “They are allowed to have an opinion,” he said, recalling that familiar atmosphere from frontline football management.
The club’s poor start has taken on extra weight because of Forest’s high expectations. Having finished seventh last season and qualified for Europe, their current standing — just one point above the relegation zone — marks a sharp decline.
Postecoglou succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo, who was dismissed amid tension with owner Marinakis. He brings a contrasting philosophy and hopes the upcoming international break will offer time to embed his ideas. He singled out certain players — Douglas Luiz, Murillo, and Oleksandr Zinchenko — as needing extra training time, which he intends to use during the two-week pause.
He now braces for that inevitable meeting with the club hierarchy. But while the sentiment outside the club grows darker, Postecoglou remains defiant. “If people outside or even internally don’t think I’m the right person, it makes no difference for me,” he said. “I still believe in what we’re trying to do … and I’m very confident of getting there.”