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Taking over from a team hero was always going to be a challenging assignment, but Nuno Espírito Santo managed to pull off a smart strategy after the former coach’s departure: winning his first two fixtures. Much is overlooked about the first six months of Nuno’s time in charge, when the team survived just one position above the drop zone and went through a period of taking victory in only once in 10 Premier League games.

The former boss had done the vital job of raising team spirit and winning over the supporters by beating an opponent away and creating excitement by overcoming 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 witnessed only another two wins there for the rest of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest supporters demand the manager axe after less than a month following European defeat.

The Australian coach is still waiting to taste a win, making him the first Forest head coach in a century to fail to secure a victory in any of their opening half-dozen games. There was a poisonous mood at the stadium on Thursday night as they lost to the second-best team in the Danish league. When supporters are demanding your dismissal after 23 days, it is reasonable to say the situation are not progressing smoothly. On the next day there were no intentions to fire Postecoglou but a loss at St James’ Park on the weekend could cost him his position.

Everyone at the club understood there would be a period of change because the Australian’s tactical approach is virtually a polar opposite to the one his predecessor carefully developed there. The plan was evolving under the former coach but not at the pace Postecoglou is attempting to introduce.

Starting with four away games was consistently going to be a difficult challenge for the manager. Opening at Arsenal meant generating momentum from the outset was unlikely but losing at Swansea in the domestic cup and drawing at another opponent put him on the back foot. The game at a Spanish club appeared to be a turning point because the performance was strong and fitting with expectations regarding the manager’s style. The processes were correct and, but for a late Antony goal, takeoff would have begun.

However Forest are still grounded. If the coach could have been excused for the performances on the road, falling at home to a visiting team and Midtjylland was never part of the thinking. There was a degree of mitigation in the first City Ground defeat: a generous set-piece award that led to the winner and appalling finishing from Forest meant the points went back to the north-east. Forest had almost two-thirds of the ball and multiple attempts but outscoring an rival on expected goals is irrelevant.

The manager and a key player will aim to reverse Nottingham Forest’s fortunes around at the next venue on Sunday.

There was a hope that once the strikers regained their scoring touch, all aspects would be fine but poor conversion is only one of the problems confronting Postecoglou. The solid defensive unit constructed by the previous manager has been taken apart, leaving Postecoglou awaiting a clean sheet. Stopping dead-ball situations has been an issue, two of the opponent’s goals originating from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a fast break, the type that were a regular occurrence during his time at Tottenham.

The coach was keen to return to management quickly after being sacked by his previous employers, particularly with a European winner’s medal around his neck. He aimed to show critics wrong and Forest offered that chance, with the extra incentive of being in the competition he had won in May. The Greek connection with Forest’s proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, facilitated make the appointment smooth and the manager, in spite of his detractors, possesses the credentials required – but pragmatism was not to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was not sacked for football reasons but for initiating a fight with the owner that he was not going to prevail in. Finishing seventh and taking Forest into continental competition made Nuno extremely popular. In spite of his complaints, a squad capable of finishing in the upper section was assembled and a lot of funds was invested. After far too much short-termism at Forest, they had a clear future plan and approach, which included a team that suited the previous boss. Now it feels as if a stepdad has moved into the home and the residents are not happy.

Trips to Newcastle and another rival frame the visit of a top team in the upcoming trio of league fixtures, suggesting life is only going to get harder. The owner made the selection with his heart and is urgently wishing to prevent another dismissal because removing the manager would be an admission that he made a pair of dreadful choices in dismissing Nuno and choosing the replacement. Football is one big popularity contest and Nuno started gaining his at the away ground. The current manager needs to do the same or he risks losing his permanently.