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Taking over from a club icon was consistently going to be a challenging task, but the previous manager succeeded to pull off a shrewd strategy after Steve Cooper’s exit: winning his initial pair of matches. Much is forgotten about the opening six months of his tenure, when the team stayed up just one position above the drop zone and endured a period of taking victory in only once in 10 top-flight matches.

Nuno had accomplished the crucial task of raising team spirit and gaining the backing of the supporters by defeating Newcastle away and generating excitement by beating a major rival at home, and no one was demanding style points. The City Ground was rocking in late December 2023, and local supporters did not mind that they saw only two more wins there for the remainder of the season.

Nottingham Forest fans demand Postecoglou dismissal after less than a month following European loss.

The Australian coach is still waiting to taste success, making him the first Forest head coach in a century to be unable to secure a victory in any of their opening half-dozen games. There was a toxic mood at the City Ground on Thursday night as they succumbed to the runner-up team in Denmark. When supporters are demanding your sacking after 23 days, it is reasonable to say the situation are not progressing smoothly. On the next day there were no intentions to fire the manager but a loss at St James’ Park on Sunday could end his position.

Everyone at the organization understood there would be a phase of transition because the Australian’s tactical approach is almost a polar opposite to the one his predecessor carefully developed there. The strategy was developing under the Portuguese but not at the speed Postecoglou is trying to implement.

Starting with a series of road matches was always going to be a tough challenge for the manager. Kicking off at Arsenal meant building positive energy from the first whistle was unlikely but suffering a defeat at a Championship team in the Carabao Cup and tying at Burnley put Postecoglou on the back foot. The match at a Spanish club seemed to be a turning point because the performance was impressive and in line with expectations regarding Postecoglou’s philosophy. The processes were sound and, but for a last-minute Antony goal, success would have begun.

However Forest are still grounded. If Postecoglou could have been forgiven for the performances on the road, losing at home to Sunderland and Midtjylland was not part of the plan. There was a element of mitigation in the first home loss: a generous free-kick award that led to the winner and poor finishing from Forest meant the result went back to the north-east. Forest had nearly the majority of the ball and 22 shots but outscoring an opponent on expected goals is meaningless.

The manager and Neco Williams will want to reverse Nottingham Forest’s fortunes around at the next venue on Sunday.

There was a belief that when the strikers found form, all aspects would be resolved but ineffective finishing is only one of the issues facing Postecoglou. The robust defensive unit constructed by Nuno has been taken apart, leaving him awaiting a clean sheet. Stopping dead-ball situations has been problematic, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals coming from them, and the remaining goal Forest let in was from a fast break, the sort that were a regular feature during his time at his former club.

Postecoglou was keen to return to work quickly after being dismissed by Tottenham, especially with a Europa League winner’s medal around his neck. He aimed to show people wrong and Forest presented that chance, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had triumphed in in the spring. The Greek connection with Forest’s owner, the club’s chief, helped make the appointment straightforward and the manager, in spite of his critics, does have the credentials necessary – but practicality was unlikely to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was not fired for sporting causes but for initiating a fight with the owner that he was never going to prevail in. Ending up seventh and taking Forest into continental competition made Nuno incredibly beloved. In spite of his gripes, a team able of finishing in the top half was put together and plenty of funds was invested. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a defined future plan and strategy, which featured a team that suited Nuno. Now it feels as if a new figure has moved into the house and the residents are displeased.

Trips to one opponent and another rival frame the visit of a top team in the next three league fixtures, implying the situation is only going to get more difficult. Marinakis made the appointment with his heart and is desperately wishing to avoid another sacking because firing Postecoglou would be an admission that he made two terrible choices in dismissing Nuno and selecting the successor. Football is one big popularity contest and the ex-boss started gaining his at the away ground. The current manager needs to do the same or he faces the possibility of losing his for good.