Nottingham Forest’s Carabao Cup campaign came to an end with a 3-2 defeat to Swansea City, despite leading 2-0 courtesy of Igor Jesus’ brace. Ange Postecoglou’s side dominated the first half, with Dilane Bakwa and Douglas Luiz impressing on their full debut and in his first start, respectively. However, Forest’s complacency proved costly as Swansea staged a dramatic comeback.
Postecoglou’s Reaction
- Disappointment: Postecoglou wasn’t pleased with his team’s performance after the game, and it was audible even from the press conference room, where reporter Chris Wathan could hear him ripping into his players.
- “Hairdryer Treatment”: The Forest boss seemingly gave his players a stern talking-to, emphasizing the need for improvement. Postecoglou later stated, “We need to improve,” and “players just thought it would naturally finish that way and we’ve paid a heavy price for that”.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Burnley: Forest’s next match is against Burnley, a newly-promoted side.
- Sunderland: The Tricky Trees then face Sunderland, another promoted team.
- Newcastle United: A tough trip to St James’ Park awaits Forest after that.
Postecoglou’s Challenge
To change the narrative around his tenure, Postecoglou will need his team to deliver results in these upcoming matches. A minimum of six points from the next three games is essential to avoid criticism ¹.
