Sean Dyche got off to a fantastic start as Nottingham Forest manager, defeating Porto in the Europa League with penalties from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus.
The penalty kicks gave Forest their first win since their Premier League debut in August, their first clean sheet since April, and Dyche his inaugural success since his appointment on Tuesday.
Forest’s first couple months of the season have been turbulent, with Ange Postecoglou ousted on Saturday, just 39 days after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo.
While there was no instant calm in the midst of the commotion at the City Ground, Dyche had restored belief and organization before Gibbs-White scored from the penalty spot in 19 minutes after Jan Bednarek committed a handball.
The hosts appeared significantly more comfortable and compact than during Postecoglou’s brief rule, with Callum Hudson-Odoi testing goalkeeper Diogo Costa and Matz Sels saving Alan Varela’s 25-yard shot.
With 13 minutes remaining, Jesus added a second penalty from the spot, which referee Radu Petrescu awarded after reviewing his monitor after originally booking Nicolo Savona for diving under Martim Fernandes’ challenge.
It meant Porto suffered their first defeat of the season—the visitors had previously won 10 of their first 11 games—and it wasn’t helped by VAR ruling Bednarek’s second-half attempt offside.
Only Sels and Willy Boly were born when Nottingham Forest won its last European game.
Their last European success came in November 1995, when they defeated Lyon 1-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Cup third round before losing to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
Three days before Lyon’s victory, Chesterfield, where Dyche was playing, lost 4-1 to Notts County in the old Division Three.
Those games were a long time ago, and Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea, which terminated Postecoglou’s brief reign, feels like another period.
Forest’s first win since the opening day was the result of tenacity, dedication, and hard work, rather than free-flowing football, and the City Ground was rocking—not resigned and restless.
But, as Dyche stated in his introductory press conference on Wednesday, “The bit I like is when you win,” saying style does not always matter in a results-driven business.
Penalties from Gibbs-White and Jesus ensured the new boss got that sensation against the Primeira Liga leaders, who failed to break down Forest’s tenacious defense as the hosts attempted to settle following a turbulent few weeks.
Dyche takes his new club to Bournemouth on Sunday before their first Premier League home game against Manchester United on November 1.
