Sean Dyche paused on the touchline and took in the roar of the City Ground as Mull of Kintyre echoed around the stands. The song, synonymous with Nottingham Forest since their 1978 title triumph under Brian Clough, marked the start of a new era for the club’s third manager of the season.
For Dyche, it was a full-circle moment — 35 years after leaving Forest as a young defender for Chesterfield. Now, returning as manager and leading the side to a 2-0 Europa League win over Porto, he relished the occasion.
“I’ve waited a long time for that,” Dyche said. “When I was here as a kid in ’87, all I wanted was to wear the shirt. Coming back as manager is special. I’ve learned to slow down in those moments — to actually take them in.”
The victory ended Forest’s eight-game winless run and offered Dyche a dream start in Europe, sealed by penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus.
Tactical tweaks bring stability
With striker Chris Wood sidelined through a knee injury, Dyche was without a key player he had managed at Burnley, where Wood had scored 53 goals for him. In his absence, Igor Jesus started in attack, dropping deep to disrupt Porto’s shape and earning his third Europa League goal from the penalty spot.
Dyche reshaped Forest into a more compact 4-4-2, giving center-backs Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic better protection from Elliot Anderson and Douglas Luiz, who sat deeper in midfield. Anderson’s tireless play freed Gibbs-White to operate between the lines, flanked by Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye.
The wide players offered width throughout, though their final deliveries often lacked precision. Notably, expensive summer additions such as James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, Dilane Bakwa, and Arnaud Kalimuendo were mostly left out, with only McAtee and Kalimuendo recalled to the bench.
Dyche’s pragmatic setup — a nod to Forest’s disciplined approach under Nuno Espirito Santo — contrasted sharply with the high-pressing game former manager Ange Postecoglou had tried to implement. The result was Forest’s first clean sheet in 21 matches, dating back to April’s win over Manchester United.
“I can finally breathe tonight,” said Gibbs-White. “The manager’s given us belief again. You can feel the positivity — it’s credit to him for bringing that back.”
Fans embrace the new era
Forest’s supporters, who had turned on Postecoglou during their previous European outing, showed renewed passion from the opening whistle. The atmosphere, charged with optimism, reflected their appreciation for Dyche’s connection to the club and its history.
In his pre-match comments, Dyche referenced memories of Brian Clough’s dog, Del Boy, running around his feet as a young player — a gesture that resonated deeply with the fans. His staff, including former Forest players Ian Woan and Steve Stone, also underscored the sense of homecoming.
During the match, supporters stayed behind their team even when Porto appeared to equalize through Jan Bednarek, only for VAR to rule it offside. Fireworks lit up the sky after the final whistle as chants of “Forest are back” rang out around the ground.
Dyche acknowledged the warmth from the stands. “You can tell from the noise whether it’s for you or not,” he said. “Winning helps, of course. These fans just want to see a team that wears the shirt with pride. If they accept me and my staff like that, it means a lot. Hopefully, that feeling keeps growing.”
