Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner has been left searching for urgent answers following a deeply disappointing 1-0 defeat against bottom-of-the-table Coventry City. In a match that sent shockwaves through the City Ground, the Reds became the unfortunate distinction of being the first team to drop points against the Sky Blues this season, as well as the first side to concede a goal to Frank Lampard’s struggling outfit courtesy of a decisive strike from Jay Dasilva.
With just a single victory secured across their opening five Premier League fixtures—compounded by a glaring inability to score a single home goal across three attempts—Forest’s early-season momentum has ground to a sudden halt. As Glasner undertakes a thorough assessment during the international break, major personnel changes feel inevitable ahead of a crucial clash against Crystal Palace in three weeks.
Chief among the changes should be a decisive call regarding Dan Ndoye.
Time Is Up for Dan Ndoye in the Starting XI
Ndoye has undoubtedly been given ample opportunity to cement a regular spot in the Forest lineup. While the Swiss star flashed his potential with a well-taken goal against Liverpool during a thrilling 2-2 draw last month, his overall form—particularly when playing at the City Ground—has been worryingly sub-par for quite some time.
Ever since completing a high-profile £30 million transfer from Bologna in the summer of 2025 during Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure, Ndoye has struggled to consistently impose himself on matches. Hopes were high that he could lock down one of the coveted number 10 roles under Glasner’s tactical system, but five games into the new campaign, the output simply hasn’t matched the expectation.
Dismal Stats Highlight Wasted Opportunities Against Coventry
The mounting frustration culminated in Sunday’s dismal loss to Coventry. According to SofaScore metrics, Ndoye’s afternoon was littered with inefficiency:
- Lost possession 7 times throughout the contest
- Registered just 2 key passes
- Suffered 2 unsuccessful touches
- Missed the target entirely with 3 wayward shots at goal
- Completed a meager 78% of his attempted passes
- Managed an expected assist (xA) tally of just 0.05
Time and time again, Ndoye proved wasteful in possession, failing to unlock a resilient Coventry defense when his team needed him most.
Solutions Are Waiting on the Bench
Compounding Ndoye’s struggles was the immediate spark provided by his teammates off the bench. Igor Jesus injected a palpable sense of danger when he entered the fray, even managing to put the ball in the back of the net before a controversial VAR review cruelly chalked it down.
Given how toothless Forest have looked in attack on home turf, Glasner can no longer afford to carry underperforming passengers simply out of a sense of obligation. Ndoye has had more than enough chances to prove he belongs as an undisputed starter in this side, but his persistent lack of consistency is holding the team back.
When domestic football resumes following the international break, Oliver Glasner needs to be ruthless. Dropping Dan Ndoye from the starting eleven is no longer just an option—it is a vital necessity if Forest are to ignite their Premier League campaign.
