Sean Dyche wants perspective but Nottingham Forest slump a worry after Aston Villa defeat
On the opening weekend of 2025, Forest cemented their place in the Premier League’s top three with a 3-0 win over Wolves.
It was the club’s sixth consecutive win in the top flight in a single season since 1966–67, leaving them five points ahead of Newcastle in fifth.
Now, there have been four consecutive defeats for the first time since November-December 2023; this series resulted in Steve Cooper losing his job at the City Ground.
Dyche is currently Forest’s third manager this season and was given the SOS in October following Ange Postecoglou’s short and damaging reign.
The former Everton and Burnley boss started well but there has been a serious decline in organisation, focus and form, especially in recent times.
These were undone by simple mistakes at Villa: after a mass stoppage that allowed Ollie Watkins to open the scoring, John Victor’s ill-advised charge 40 yards from goal allowed John McGinn to add a wonderful third goal.
“You can’t ignore fundamental mistakes in teams like this in the Premier League,” Dyche told BBC Match of the Day.
“There’s logic, but you can’t keep giving yourself a mountain to climb. The players were going for the basics. We worked on it and showed them, but that’s the job. When I came here, I never expected it to be easy.”
Forest’s plan worked, albeit an overly pragmatic one, until Watkins struck in first-half stoppage time. Villa had one chance (the golden chance) when goalkeeper John denied Watkins early on.
However, Forest disbanded. McGinn scored the first of his two goals in the 49th minute, giving Villa a 2-0 advantage.
Although Morgan Gibbs-White’s goal made it 2-1 and briefly gave Forest hope, there was little to suggest they could mount an improbable comeback.
Gibbs-White told Sky Sports: “I feel like we stuck to the game plan in the first half. There were a lot of positives to be taken. I know we needed the points but we showed a work ethic and desire.”
“We know Villa always start with a high press. So the important thing was to reduce that pressure and quiet the fans down a bit. We were unfortunate to concede just before half-time.”
