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Taking over from a team icon was always going to be a tough task, but the previous manager managed to pull off a shrewd move after Steve Cooper’s exit: winning his initial pair of fixtures. A great deal is forgotten about the first six months of Nuno’s time in charge, when the team survived just one place above the relegation zone and endured a period of taking victory in only once in 10 top-flight games.

Nuno had accomplished the crucial job of boosting team spirit and winning over the supporters by beating an opponent away and generating excitement by beating Manchester United at their own ground, and no one was calling for aesthetic football. The City Ground was rocking in late December 2023, and home fans did not mind that they saw only two more wins there for the remainder of the campaign.

The club fans demand the manager dismissal after less than a month following continental loss.

The Australian coach is still waiting to experience success, making him the first Forest manager in a century to fail to secure a victory in any of their opening half-dozen games. There was a toxic atmosphere at the City Ground on Thursday night as they succumbed to the second-best team in the Danish league. When supporters are demanding your sacking after three weeks, it is reasonable to say the situation are not progressing smoothly. On the next day there were no plans to fire Postecoglou but a defeat at Newcastle on Sunday could cost him his job.

Everyone at the club understood there would be a phase of transition because the Australian’s tactical approach is almost a polar opposite to the one his predecessor finely tuned there. The strategy was developing under the Portuguese but not at the speed the new boss is attempting to introduce.

Starting with a series of road matches was always going to be a tough ask for Postecoglou. Kicking off at Arsenal meant generating positive energy from the outset was improbable but losing at Swansea in the domestic cup and drawing at another opponent put him on the defensive. The match at a Spanish club appeared to be a positive shift because the performance was strong and in line with anticipations regarding the manager’s style. The processes were correct and, if not for a last-minute Antony goal, takeoff would have commenced.

Instead Forest remain grounded. If the coach could have been forgiven for the away results, falling at their stadium to Sunderland and a European side was never part of the plan. There was a degree of mitigation in the first home defeat: a generous set-piece decision that resulted in the decisive goal and appalling finishing from Forest meant the result went away to the north-east. Forest had almost the majority of possession and multiple attempts but outscoring an rival on expected goals is meaningless.

Ange Postecoglou and a key player will want to turn the team’s fortunes around at the next venue on the upcoming matchday.

There was a belief that when the forwards regained form, all aspects would be fine but poor conversion is only one of the issues confronting Postecoglou. The robust backline constructed by Nuno has been taken apart, leaving Postecoglou awaiting a shutout. Defending set pieces has been problematic, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals coming from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a counterattack, the sort that were a regular occurrence during Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham.

Postecoglou was eager to return to management promptly after being sacked by Tottenham, particularly with a Europa League honor around his neck. He wanted to prove critics wrong and Forest presented that chance, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had triumphed in in May. The Hellenic connection with Forest’s owner, the club’s chief, helped make the hiring smooth and Postecoglou, despite his critics, possesses the credentials required – but pragmatism was unlikely to be involved.

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Nuno was never fired for football reasons but for initiating a fight with the owner that he was not going to win. Finishing in seventh place and taking Forest into continental competition made Nuno extremely popular. Despite his complaints, a squad capable of finishing in the top half was assembled and plenty of funds was spent. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a defined long-term vision and approach, which featured a team that suited Nuno. Now it seems as if a stepdad has moved into the home and the children are not happy.

Visits to Newcastle and Bournemouth bookend the visit of Chelsea in the upcoming trio of league games, suggesting the situation is only going to get more difficult. Marinakis made the selection with his emotions and is urgently hoping to prevent another sacking because removing the manager would be an admission that he made a pair of terrible decisions in letting go of Nuno and selecting the replacement. The sport is one big popularity competition and the ex-boss started winning his at St James’ Park. Postecoglou needs to do the same or he risks forfeiting his permanently.