Nottingham Forest endured a deeply disappointing Thursday evening in Portugal, where almost everything that could go wrong did. A lifeless loss to Braga was compounded by an own goal, a missed spot-kick, and a late dismissal, leaving little room for optimism.
The defeat arrived at a damaging moment. Forest had travelled with realistic expectations of strengthening their push for a top-eight finish in the Europa League league phase, a position that would have guaranteed direct passage into the last 16. Instead, those aspirations now look remote.
Even if Sean Dyche’s team overcomes Ferencvaros in their final fixture, they are still likely to be forced into a two-legged play-off to progress further in the competition.
The mood inside the away end reflected the display on the pitch. Supporters voiced their anger both before the interval and after the final whistle, underlining how flat and ineffective the performance appeared.
One minute that changed everything
For long spells, the contest lacked quality, but Forest had the clearest chance to seize control shortly after the break. In the 53rd minute, Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up from the penalty spot, only to see his effort kept out.
The fallout was immediate and brutal. Less than a minute later, Braga took the lead when Ryan Yates inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net, turning frustration into disbelief.
Dyche later described the decisive spell as a moment of chaos. Speaking to TNT Sports, he explained that his side had looked comfortable until that sequence but failed to manage the aftermath of the missed penalty.
Braga fed off the momentum, aided by a raucous home crowd. Forest, by contrast, lost their composure, allowing a match they were controlling to slip away through a single costly lapse.
A flat display and growing concerns
Statistically, the result was hard to digest. Braga claimed victory without registering a single effort on target, becoming only the second club in Europa League history to do so, although they did strike the woodwork while ahead.
Dyche had made seven alterations from the goalless Premier League draw with Arsenal, a decision driven by the need to balance domestic priorities with European commitments. While he criticised similar rotation earlier in the season, this time he acknowledged the effort but lamented the lack of sharpness.
Yates felt the outcome was harsh, arguing that Forest dictated much of the contest and had done enough to secure at least a positive result. Nevertheless, he admitted the side must raise their level quickly.
Former defender Joleon Lescott was far less forgiving. He labelled the night a complete shambles and pointed to Elliot Anderson’s late red card as another damaging blow, particularly with a crucial final group game looming.
Anderson will be unavailable for that match, and Forest now face the possibility of additional fixtures in February as they battle to stay in the Premier League. With squad depth already stretched, the consequences of this defeat could linger well beyond one grim evening in Braga.
