Postecoglou remains winless at Nottingham Forest as Sunderland continue their surge up the table | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou is without a win in his first five games in charge of Nottingham Forest after a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at the City Ground.

Omar Alderete’s header proved decisive, with an intelligent first-half free-kick routine catching Forest’s defence flat-footed.

Chasing his first win after a winless start to life in Nottingham, Postecoglou, who was taking charge of his first home game at the club, made five changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Real Betis on Wednesday night.

The backline was left untouched, but there were wholesale changes in midfield as Nicolas Dominguez, Dan Ndoye, James McAtee and Dilane Bakwa all came in. Chris Wood replaced Igor Jesus up front, taking the captain’s armband in the process, with Morgan Gibbs-White dropping to the bench.

The visitors, with the chance to extend their unbeaten streak to five matches in all competitions, unsurprisingly made only the one enforced change, as Regis Le Bris brought in Arthur Masuaku to cover for the suspended Reinildo in defence.

It took less than ten minutes for Forest to be served an early reminder of the game’s fine margins, as Dominguez lingered on the ball inside his own box and Wilson Isidor pounced, sweeping a snapshot narrowly wide of the bottom corner.

Having slowly grown into the game, the hosts’ first chance fell to none other than their talismanic forward, Chris Wood, who rose highest to meet Nico Williams’ cross but headed over the target.

However, there were still warning signs when Noah Sadiki was allowed to freely roam through the heart of Forest’s midfield without a problem, and Sunderland punished them by breaking the deadlock moments later.

In a bizarre turn of events, Dominguez was booked for simulation despite protesting that his ankle was clipped by Trai Hume, rewarding Sunderland with a free-kick from a promising position.

From the resulting free-kick, Granit Xhaka delivered instinctively to an unmarked Omar Alderete, steering a header through Matz Sels’ legs and into the back of the net.

There were glimpses of quality as Williams found Ndoye with an inviting cross, but his driven effort deflected just wide as Forest pressed for an equaliser late in the first half.

The introductions of Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus and Callum Hudson-Odoi in the second half invigorated the Reds as they hunted once again for a leveller. Hudson-Odoi’s clever play set up Elliot Anderson, only for Robin Roefs to produce a superb diving stop.

With Forest turning up the tempo, chances were starting to come thick and fast. Anderson’s effort flew over, while Bakwa’s shot was straight at Roefs, and Bertrand Traore was denied by a comfortable save from Sels at the other end.

Omari Hutchinson saw his shot stopped by the outstretched legs of Roefs as the Forest faithful continued to rally behind their team, and Jesus’ header was palmed away from danger by the Dutch goalkeeper.

Hutchinson – who became Forest’s record signing this summer – delivered a perfectly weighted cross to Wood, but the striker could only steer his header agonisingly wide.

As the game entered its dying embers, Sunderland remained intent on entertaining their away fans, with Lutsharel Geertruida weaving through a sea of red and white shirts, only for his shot to be saved by Sels.

There was jubilation in the away end as the full time whistle rang out at the City Ground, with Le Bris’ side moving up to third as they continue their honeymoon run in their return to Premier League football.

Still searching for a first win, Ange’s Forest turn their attention to the Europa League, hosting FC Midtjylland on Thursday before they face a tough trip to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle next Sunday.