Nottingham Forest’s underwhelming start under Ange Postecoglou persisted against Burnley, highlighting an ongoing issue that originated during Nuno Espírito Santo’s tenure.
The Reds settled for a 1-1 draw with Burnley, extending their winless streak since the season opener against Brentford and landing them in 14th place after five matches.
While there were some positive aspects to their performance, Postecoglou acknowledged that his new signings need time to acclimate to the Premier League as their campaign continues to falter.
Although the result itself was not particularly remarkable, a glaring defensive flaw was evident during the game that Postecoglou has inherited from Espírito Santo. Nottingham Forest has not kept a clean sheet since April.
Burnley’s equalizer exposed vulnerabilities in Postecoglou’s defense, with both Nikola Milenkovic and Morato failing to handle a cross before Oleksandr Zinchenko scored. This defensive struggle dates back to Espírito Santo’s time in charge, as the team has not kept a clean sheet all season.
The lack of defensive solidity has been a recurring issue, with the last competitive clean sheet coming in April when they defeated Manchester United. Despite winning the Premier League’s Golden Glove award last season, goalkeeper Matz Sels has not been able to replicate that success this year.
Postecoglou has also faced challenges in fielding his strongest defensive lineup, with key players like Ola Aina sidelined due to injury. Neco Williams and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been filling in at full-back, while injuries have forced Morato into a central defensive role.
While Postecoglou’s style of play may be more focused on attacking football, addressing the team’s defensive frailties will be crucial if he hopes to succeed at Nottingham Forest.
