Vitor Pereira’s first game as Nottingham Forest manager saw the Reds beat Fenerbahçe 3-0 at the Chobani Stadium, taking a strong lead into the second leg of the Europa League play-off. George Edwards was at the match
Vitor Pereira fostered togetherness and got the job done firmly in his first match as Nottingham Forest manager, beating Fenerbahçe 3-0 in the Europa League and stopping the downward spiral the Reds were on under Sean Dyche.
Since he’s arrived, Pereira has emphasised the importance of togetherness and his vow to work hard to get the job done. Four days and one game into his tenure, Forest did just that.
The manager’s intent to progress and revitalise was evident throughout his side’s performance in their 3-0 victory at Fenerbahçe, visible from minute one to 90 and beyond.
As the players made their way to celebrate with and applaud the travelling contingent at full time, the 57-year-old was in deep conversation with unused substitute Dilane Bakwa. The Frenchman was publicly shamed and often ignored by predecessor Sean Dyche, Pereira’s instinct to bring together his squad and take everyone on the journey with him evident even when the job had been completed.
On the pitch, in their football, that togetherness was blissful.
The Reds were greeted by a torrent of whistles and a sea of yellow scarves being waved as they kicked off, but it didn’t take long for Forest to silence their host’s hostility. On the field, Forest were the imposers, starting the game with vigour, athleticism and intensity at levels not seen this year.
Too often this campaign Forest have relied on individual moments or players to drag them through. There was nothing individual about their display in Istanbul tonight, passing, pressing and moving as a unit, in perfect synchronisation.
Even when the individual moment came, it stemmed from the side’s togetherness.
Murillo’s marauding run and thumping finish to open the scoring is something the Brazilian has been threatening since he broke into the first team over two years ago, a gleaming smile beaming across his face as he danced in front of the visiting supporters. But his run stemmed from Forest losing possession in midfield and not letting Fenerbahçe breathe, pressing together and winning the ball back no sooner had they lost it, with Elliot Anderson setting Murillo off on his way.
Eight days since they last played — the final nail in Dyche’s coffin as Forest, despite 35 shots, looked blunt and predictable as they drew 0-0 to Wolves — the Reds looked completely revived.
Both Dyche and Ange Postecoglou before him faltered because of their inability to be adaptable, both rigid in their methods, contrasting last season’s success where unpredictability was Forest’s greatest strength.
Pereira arriving presented a similar question as when Nuno Espírito Santo pitched up: how Forest would adapt to the back three system that served him well at Wolves. But that argument was rubbished as Pereira named Forest’s strongest, most in-form and balanced XI in the 4-2-3-1 formation they are comfortable with. That sentiment is refreshing in an era where head coaches seem to come with a set of styles and principles attached unwaveringly; Pereira flexible in formation in his past, winning the double at Olympiacos under Evangelos Marinakis whilst playing a back four.
And from Postecoglou’s chaos to Dyche’s rigidness, Forest needed to find the middle ground that they struck tonight. They were bold at times, aggressively going man-for-man off the ball to keep the intensity high, but also stuck to their defensive laurels when the pressure — albeit rarely — rose.
Forest also attacked with variety, Omari Hutchinson fostering the wide areas and Igor Jesus’s movement causing problems whilst constantly looking a threat from set pieces, Jesus nodding home Forest’s second from close range from one of his sides 10 corners.
Their balanced approach and strong lineup meant Forest blitzed Fenerbahçe in the first leg of their Europa League playoff — Murillo’s opener, Jesus’s header and Morgan Gibbs-White’s second-half strike giving Forest a 3-0 lead after 50 minutes. They got the job done.
In the Europa League under Dyche, Forest so often failed in their efforts from the start after making several personnel changes, forced to bring on the cavalry in a last-ditch and often failed attempt to salvage something.
But Pereira’s driven approach from the off meant he could replace Forest’s key men from the hour mark as his side held a healthy lead, with an eye on his City Ground debut on Sunday against Liverpool.
Encouragement will naturally stem from this performance. Three goals, it could have been more. A clean sheet, the second for Stefan Ortega who was by no means a passenger, making two neat saves. One foot in the last 16, although as long-standing supporters will concur, it’s Nottingham Forest, and there’s still a leg to go.
The Reds’ problems aren’t cured overnight. They still sit three points above the Premier League’s relegation zone and have won one of their last five league games. But the downward spiral of results and confidence under Dyche has been sharply halted, and the togetherness that had been sapped from the club is starting to creep through once again.
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