Nottingham Forest’s difficult start under Ange Postecoglou continued as they fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Sunderland, with Omar Alderete’s first-half header proving decisive. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the Australian coach described it as “another game that got away from us” — a phrase that is fast becoming the story of his early reign at the City Ground.
Forest dominated possession, created the better chances, and forced Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs into six saves, yet still walked away empty-handed. The defeat leaves Postecoglou winless in his opening five games, the worst start for any permanent Forest manager since Billy Walker in 1946.
Postecoglou on wasted chances and set-piece frustration
The Forest boss admitted his side have been their own worst enemies in recent weeks. “Tough to take. It’s another game that got away from us and that has been the story of the last four or five games. We control games well, don’t take our chances, really disappointing goal to concede and we don’t take our chances and that means we don’t get the result we wanted.”
“It wasn’t a free-kick but there’s nothing we can do about that. We should have dealt with the free-kick better anyway.” — Ange Postecoglou, Sky Sports
Alderete’s goal came from a disputed free-kick after Nicolas Dominguez was penalised for simulation. Postecoglou expressed his frustration at the decision but insisted his side should still have defended the set-piece more effectively.
Missed opportunities cost Forest again
Chris Wood squandered Forest’s best chance with a header wide in the 80th minute, but Postecoglou insisted blame could not fall solely on the striker. “It wasn’t just him, there were other opportunities we had there. We certainly should have got something out of this game for sure.”
The coach acknowledged his side’s profligacy in front of goal as the central issue. “We had enough chances to win it or get something out of the game but we have been pretty wasteful in front of goal and that means we have not been able to get over the line and get the points we need. Disappointing but we need to dust ourselves off and look at our next challenge.”
“Not a project” – Postecoglou demands immediate results
Asked whether patience was needed as his new tenure takes shape, Postecoglou dismissed suggestions he is working on a long-term project. “Yeah but it’s not a project, I’ve said that before. We should be winning these games and that’s up to me to fix. Our football is progressing and we are changing a hell of a lot. We have got to win games and that’s what we have got to piece together now.”
He also acknowledged fan frustrations after another defeat. “It’s hard to say why we aren’t scoring but we don’t really have the luxury of time to analyse that. We have the foundation to win games of football but we are not and we need to change that. Fans have got every right to be disappointed, they want to see their team win. I understand their disappointment, certainly shared by us in the dressing room and by me and my job is to rectify that.”
Match stats: Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland
| Stat | Nottingham Forest | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 65% | 35% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.61 | 0.91 |
| Total Shots | 21 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 3 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 1 | 6 |
| Corners | 7 | 4 |
| Fouls | 11 | 6 |
| Passes | 533 | 290 |
| Tackles | 15 | 10 |
source: sofascore match data – 27 September 2025
The numbers told a frustrating story for Forest: more possession, more shots, and a higher xG, but Sunderland were clinical with their rare chances and Roefs made six crucial saves.
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William said the comments underline Postecoglou’s sense of urgency. “He’s not hiding behind excuses. Forest are controlling possession, creating chances, but wastefulness and defensive lapses are killing them. Postecoglou is right — there’s no luxury of time in the Premier League.”
William added: “The positives are there: Forest are progressing in terms of style and ball control. But results dictate mood, and without wins, pressure builds. The next fixture feels crucial for Postecoglou to buy himself breathing space.”
Key insights
- Ange Postecoglou admits Forest’s defeat to Sunderland was “another game that got away.”
- Alderete’s header from a controversial free-kick settled the game.
- Forest dominated possession (65%) and shots (21) but wasted chances.
- Chris Wood missed a key late header, but others also squandered opportunities.
- Postecoglou rejects “project” label, demanding immediate results.
What’s next for Nottingham Forest?
Forest’s next matches in Europe and the Premier League will be pivotal for Postecoglou. With patience already wearing thin, the Australian coach knows he needs to translate possession dominance into victories quickly.
For Sunderland, this result further highlights their resilience and growing belief under Regis Le Bris. For Forest, however, the narrative remains the same: control without cutting edge.
👉 Do Nottingham Forest need patience with Postecoglou’s style, or is it already time for urgent results over long-term progression?
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