Under-pressure Forest boss Ange – ‘I love a fight’

Ange Postecoglou has spoken out firmly amid growing speculation over his future as Nottingham Forest manager following a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday. The Australian coach, who took charge less than a month ago, has now failed to secure a victory in his first seven matches in charge. The club sits precariously in 17th position in the league table, just three points above the relegation zone. Postecoglou is expected to hold discussions with club owner Evangelos Marinakis soon as pressure mounts over the winless run.

Postecoglou addressed questions about his job security after the Newcastle loss, acknowledging the difficulties but emphasizing his resilience and determination. “I started in Australia when I was 32 years old in semi-professional football and I’m here in the Premier League at 60. Do you think I lack self-belief or don’t like a fight?” he said. He reiterated that he relishes challenge and is prepared for the struggles inherent in the Premier League’s competitive environment. Postecoglou also expressed frustration at what he perceives as leniency toward home teams in refereeing decisions, citing a key Newcastle goal as an example.

Despite the defeat, Forest showed organization and resilience against a strong Newcastle side, frustrating the hosts for much of the match before conceding two second-half goals from Bruno Guimarães and a late penalty by Nick Woltemade. Postecoglou emphasized the team’s progress in his short tenure, noting the need to convert chances and improve results over the coming weeks.

For Newcastle, Eddie Howe praised his squad’s ability to recover mentally from a previous heavy Champions League win and maintain strong performance levels in the Premier League fixture. Howe described recent results as pivotal, highlighting the importance of consistency at this stage of the season as Newcastle balance domestic and European commitments.

The situation for Postecoglou and Forest remains uncertain as the club’s hierarchy evaluates the team’s trajectory with an eye on halting their rapid slide toward the relegation zone. The signing of Postecoglou was seen as a strategic move to instill a new style and stabilize the club, but immediate performance pressures underline the challenges ahead at the City Ground. For the manager, success hinges on his ability to translate tactical intent into points quickly in order to secure both his position and Forest’s Premier League future.