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Taking over from a club hero was consistently going to be a challenging task, but Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded to achieve a shrewd move after the former coach’s departure: winning his first two matches. A great deal is overlooked about the first six months of Nuno’s tenure, when the squad survived just one place above the relegation zone and went through a stretch of winning only once in 10 top-flight games.

Nuno had done the vital task of raising team spirit and gaining the backing of the supporters by beating an opponent away and generating excitement by beating Manchester United at their own ground, 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 rest of the campaign.

The club supporters demand Postecoglou axe after less than a month following continental loss.

The Australian coach is yet to experience a win, becoming the first Forest head coach in a century to be unable to secure a victory in any of their opening half-dozen fixtures. There was a poisonous mood at the stadium on the recent matchday as they lost to the runner-up team in Denmark. When supporters are calling for your sacking after three weeks, it is fair to say the situation are not going well. On Friday there were no plans to dismiss Postecoglou but a defeat at Newcastle on the weekend could end his position.

Everyone at the club understood there would be a period of transition because the new manager’s tactical approach is almost a complete contrast to the one Nuno finely tuned there. The strategy was evolving under the Portuguese but not at the pace the new boss is attempting to implement.

Beginning with four away games was consistently going to be a difficult challenge for Postecoglou. Opening at Arsenal meant generating positive energy from the first whistle was unlikely but suffering a defeat at a Championship team in the domestic cup and drawing at Burnley put Postecoglou on the defensive. The match at Real Betis seemed to be a positive shift because the performance was impressive and in line with expectations regarding the manager’s philosophy. The methods were correct and, if not for a last-minute Antony goal, takeoff would have begun.

Instead Forest remain stuck. If the coach could have been forgiven for the performances on the road, losing at home to a visiting team and a European side was not part of the plan. There was a degree of explanation in the first City Ground loss: a generous free-kick decision that led to the winner and appalling finishing from Forest meant the points went away to the opposing team. Forest had almost the majority of possession and 22 shots but outscoring an opponent on xG is irrelevant.

Ange Postecoglou and a key player will aim to turn the team’s results around at the next venue on Sunday.

There was a hope that once the strikers regained form, all aspects would be fine but ineffective finishing is only one of the issues facing the boss. The solid backline constructed by Nuno has been taken apart, leaving him still waiting for a shutout. Stopping set pieces has been problematic, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals originating from them, and the remaining goal Forest conceded was from a counterattack, the type that were a common feature during Postecoglou’s time at his former club.

The coach was eager to get back to work promptly after being sacked by Tottenham, particularly with a Europa League winner’s medal around his neck. He wanted to show people wrong and Forest offered that opportunity, with the extra incentive of being in the competition he had triumphed in in the spring. The Greek connection with Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, helped make the appointment straightforward and Postecoglou, despite his detractors, does have the credentials necessary – but practicality was not to be part of the equation.

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Nuno was never sacked for football reasons but for initiating a fight with Marinakis that he was not going to prevail in. Ending up seventh and taking Forest into Europe made Nuno extremely popular. In spite of his complaints, a team able of ending in the top half was put together and plenty of funds was spent. After far too much short-termism at Forest, they had a defined future plan and approach, which featured a team that fit the previous boss. Now it feels as if a new figure has entered the home and the residents are displeased.

Visits to Newcastle and Bournemouth bookend the visit of a top team in the next three league games, suggesting the situation is only going to get more difficult. The owner made the selection with his emotions and is urgently hoping to prevent another sacking because firing the manager would be an admission that he made two dreadful decisions in dismissing the former coach and selecting the successor. The sport is one big popularity contest and Nuno started winning his at St James’ Park. Postecoglou needs to do the same or he faces the possibility of forfeiting his for good.