The Sean Dyche era is fully up and running at Nottingham Forest after he secured his first Premier League win as head coach at the third time of asking. Leeds were barely worthy opponents, which is concerning considering the two teams could face a long battle for survival.
Lukas Nmecha put Leeds ahead but they quickly withdrew their challenge as Ibrahim Sangaré, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson secured for Forest a first Premier League victory in 10 matches, to move them one point off 17th.
The final whistle was greeted with a roar inside the City Ground and fireworks outside to show the fuse had been lit. “There’s good signs here and there’s real signs of people committing to the cause, and I always think that’s important,” Dyche said.
“Of course every player earns money and all that, what about the commitment to the cause? What about the commitment to each other? Start with each other, the fans and the badge, so they’re important things, and when we get to that, then you know you’re on to some people, we’re going towards that.”
Two goals 135 seconds apart were the only two noteworthy incidents of a dreadful first half. Errors played a key part in both. Nmecha’s opener was Leeds’s first real involvement in the clash, coming 13 minutes in. The striker’s finish was clinical after the visitors capitalised on inept defending from Nicolò Savona 25 yards from goal. It was Leeds’s only shot of the first half.
It failed to embolden Leeds as they soon relinquished their advantage. Sangaré was quickest to react to Lucas Perri palming a cross out into the box, when holding the ball did not seem difficult. It was the midfielder’s first goal for the club since arriving in 2023 from PSV Eindhoven, opening his account and bringing the match to life with one sidefooted shot.
“We should not give away the lead so easily and cheaply,” Daniel Farke said. “Small details are always decisive and there were a few details that were not good enough today.”
Without a league win since the opening weekend, Forest needed a reaction against a relegation rival. Dyche’s moulding of the team is becoming more apparent as each game passes. The winger Dan Ndoye operated as an auxiliary right-back when Leeds had possession to try to quell the threat down Forest’s right.
Leeds offered little to no attacking potency throughout the first half. Nmecha, who replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the starting lineup, struggled with the aerial dominance and physicality of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, winning very little in the air and without the support to get the second balls.
Neither side exuded confidence; Forest repeatedly got into the final third without possessing a clinical final ball into the box, while Leeds were the masters of losing possession with ill-advised passes and running into dead ends. Dyche ensured the channels were hit regularly and Gibbs-White tried to get on the ball in an attempt to create something but was not at his inventive best. “I just want him to keep playing with a smile,” Dyche said of his captain.
It felt like an occasion where the players needed to do something to inspire the fans, rather than vice versa amid a City Ground lull. It was quiet as 22 men constantly toiled without producing much to justify the ticket price. Forest are clearly better organised than under Ange Postecoglou but required a cutting edge.
Dyche, who has lost only once in five games in charge, tried to provide that with a triple substitution before the hour. Omari Hutchinson, Taiwo Awoniyi and Ryan Yates were sent on to add guile and workrate with Forest sensing the match was there to be won. Hutchinson swung a perfect cross from the right, which Gibbs‑White flicked into the corner to bring the ground back to life.
“He’s been through a tough period recently,” Gibbs-White said of Hutchinson. “He stayed resilient and strong. He proved today why he should be in the 11.”
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Matz Sels produced a comfortable save from Daniel James and Calvert‑Lewin headed a corner inches wide but there were few causes for concern. “I didn’t expect before the season started and also the transfer window turned out that it would be an easy, smooth ride through the whole season,” Farke said. “We are quite calm, we know what we have to do better, especially to return back to our clean sheet behaviour.”.
Farke made his own triple change and later sent on the winger Jack Harrison at left-back. The makeshift defender proved his naivety by bundling over Hutchinson inside the box and Anderson did the rest to remove any lasting nerves.
“Everyone needed it [the win], I need it as much as everyone else does. I’m the manager, you work to get wins, that’s what keeps you in the business,” Dyche said, and few know the industry better.
