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Taking over from a club icon was always going to be a challenging assignment, but Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded to achieve a shrewd move after Steve Cooper’s exit: securing victories in his first two matches. Much is overlooked about the first six months of Nuno’s time in charge, when the squad survived just one place above the drop zone and endured a period of winning only one time in 10 Premier League matches.

The former boss had accomplished the vital job of raising morale and gaining the backing of the fans by defeating Newcastle away and creating excitement by beating a major rival at their own ground, and no one was demanding style points. The home stadium was rocking in the end of 2023, and local supporters were not overly concerned that they witnessed only another two wins there for the remainder of the campaign.

The club supporters call for the manager dismissal after 23 days following continental loss.

The Australian coach is yet to experience success, making him the first Forest head coach in a hundred years to fail to win any of their opening half-dozen fixtures. There was a poisonous atmosphere at the stadium on the recent matchday as they succumbed to the second-best team in Denmark. When fans are demanding your sacking after three weeks, it is fair to say things are not progressing smoothly. On the next day there were no plans to fire the manager but a defeat at St James’ Park on the weekend could cost him his position.

All those at the organization understood there would be a period of change because the new manager’s style of play is almost a complete contrast to the one Nuno finely tuned there. The strategy was evolving under the Portuguese but not at the pace Postecoglou is trying to implement.

Starting with four away games was consistently going to be a tough challenge for the manager. Opening at Arsenal meant generating momentum from the outset was improbable but suffering a defeat at a Championship team in the domestic cup and tying at another opponent put Postecoglou on the defensive. The game at Real Betis seemed to be a turning point because the showing was strong and fitting with expectations regarding the manager’s philosophy. The processes were correct and, but for a last-minute opposing player goal, takeoff would have commenced.

Instead Forest remain stuck. If Postecoglou could have been excused for the away results, falling at their stadium to a visiting team and a European side was never part of the thinking. There was a element of mitigation in the first home loss: a soft set-piece decision that resulted in the winner and poor finishing from Forest meant the points went back to the opposing team. Forest had nearly two-thirds of possession and multiple attempts but beating an rival on expected goals is irrelevant.

The manager and a key player will want to turn Nottingham Forest’s results around at Newcastle on Sunday.

There was a belief that when the forwards regained form, everything would be fine but poor finishing is only one of the issues confronting the boss. The solid backline constructed by Nuno has been dismantled, leaving him awaiting a clean sheet. Defending dead-ball situations has been an issue, a pair of the opponent’s goals originating from them, and the other goal Forest let in was from a counterattack, the type that were a regular feature during his time at Tottenham.

The coach was keen to get back to work promptly after being dismissed by Tottenham, especially with a Europa League honor around his neck. He aimed to show people wrong and Forest presented that chance, with the extra incentive of being in the competition he had won in May. The Greek connection with Forest’s proprietor, the club’s chief, facilitated make the hiring straightforward and the manager, despite his critics, does have the qualifications necessary – but pragmatism was not to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was never fired for sporting reasons but for initiating a fight with Marinakis that he was never going to prevail in. Ending up in seventh place and guiding Forest into Europe made Nuno incredibly beloved. Despite his gripes, a squad capable of finishing in the upper section was assembled and plenty of funds was invested. After far too much immediate thinking at Forest, they had a defined long-term vision and strategy, which included a squad that suited the previous boss. Now it feels as if a new figure has entered the house and the residents are displeased.

Visits to Newcastle and another rival bookend the home game of a top team in the upcoming trio of Premier League games, implying life is only going to get more difficult. The owner made the appointment with his emotions and is desperately hoping to avoid another sacking because removing the manager would be an admission that he made a pair of dreadful choices in letting go of Nuno and selecting the successor. Football is one big popularity competition and Nuno began winning his at the away ground. Postecoglou needs to emulate that or he risks forfeiting his permanently.