Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland: Postecoglu’s tough start continues against Black Cats | OneFootball

Sunderland’s great form continued on Saturday night after a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the City Ground extended Ange Postecoglou’s difficult start to life as Nottingham Forest manager.

As it happened

Forest haven’t won since opening day and went into the game almost 10 places below newly promoted Sunderland. Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have had an incredible start to the season, falling to defeat only once away at Burnley. They have undergone a revolutionary summer with 14 players coming in among a whole host of new coaches and backroom staff.

Forest meanwhile have had a tumultuous start to their season following a very public falling out with upper management. Nuno Espírito Santo was relieved of his duties and replaced by former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic coach Postecoglou, who led the former to Europa League victory last season. However, their start has been less than impressive as Ange has failed to fetch victory in any of his opening four games.

Sunderland started confidently. Star striker Wilson Isidor was unlucky to see his shot drift wide of Matz Sels’ goal after a mix-up with the Forest defence. The hosts continued to look frail at the back, as Sunderland’s wingers tried to cause problems.

Despite early pressure from the visitors, Forest began to grow into the game and looked to try and test Robin Roefs’ goal. The visitors broke the deadlock in slightly controversial fashion as they were awarded a free-kick for a perceived dive by midfielder Nicolás Domínguez after contending with Trai Hume for the ball just outside the Forest box.

The subsequent set piece was delicately delivered by Granit Xhaka onto the unmarked head of Omar Alderete, who managed to squeeze past Sels to put his side a goal up. The goal was met with protests from the Forest players and manager, but it was allowed to stand after multiple different VAR checks.

Forest responded well. Dan Ndoye came close to equalising before the break with a shot deflected off Hume to narrowly miss Roefs’ near post. Just before the break, Forest fashioned another chance from a corner but Chris Wood headed over the crossbar.

As the second half went on, Postecoglu’s men pushed hard for an equaliser. Boyhood Newcastle fan Elliot Anderson curled an effort over the bar in one of many chances he had that went awry. Sunderland have been impressive at the back all season and Nordi Mukiele and Alderete continued that theme by defending valiantly, while Roefs, who has been in excellent form this season, made impressive saves to deny Anderson, Wood and Omari Hutchinson.

Despite all the second-half pressure, it was Sunderland who came the closest to grabbing the next goal after an impressive run by Lutsharel Geertruida led to a brilliant stop from Sels to stop further trouble at the City Ground.

Sunderland held on to temporarily move up to third in the Premier League table. Meanwhile, Postecoglu is still without a win as Nottingham Forest manager. The reds have dropped down to 17th and are still haven’t won since the opening day.

The lineups