Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Wrexham proved the abysmal recruitment job done in the summer by Edu and the Reds’ hierarchy, as Sean Dyche struggled to balance his side once again despite positive impact from his substitutions. George Edwards was at the match
Trudging off down the tunnel at half-time with their heads bowed in shame, not one of the players nor coaching staff could look the berating visiting supporters in the eye in the wake of their dismal first-half showing against Wrexham, trailing by two goals and looking devoid of new ideas or spark.
A gruelling and gripping reaction came in the second half, as Forest’s much-changed XI was shaken up by the introduction of the A-team from the bench, spearheading Forest’s fight back to 3-3, including a 90th-minute equaliser.
But their efforts were to be in vain by the end, finally falling short on penalties, with Omari Hutchinson seeing his effort saved by Arthur Okonkwo to send the hosts through to the fourth round on a memorable night under the Racecourse Arena lights.
Being in the position Forest were at the break should never have been a proposition.
When assembling this current squad, there was the expectation for rotation and the need for real depth, the aim to set Forest up to compete in Europe while progressing in the Premier League and giving the cup competitions a right old go.
It was never going to be easy, contending with Europe for the first time in 30 years, but regardless of whether the first, second or even third team was fielded, going away to Wrexham should never have been made to look as difficult as the Reds made it look in the first 45.
Of the XI that began the match, nine were signings from this summer, all with varying degrees of first-team action this season but signed with genuine excitement; a cup tie against Championship opposition the perfect opportunity to prove their worth and force themselves into Sean Dyche’s mind going forward.
Instead, the manager will be left scratching his head as to how many even merit a place on the bench. “They knock on my door and ask why they aren’t playing… the evidence is there,” was his scathing reaction post-match talking to TNT Sports.
"They all knock on my door and ask why they aren't playing, the evidence is there…" 😬
Sean Dyche's honest assessment of Nottingham Forest's FA Cup loss to Wrexham.
🎙️ @Sports_EmmaD | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/xr83ALMS2d
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 9, 2026
That falls on Edu, owner Evangalos Marinakis’s Global Head of Football tasked with assembling their squad this season, as reports of mounting pressure on the former Arsenal director grew this week. Forest’s performance at Wrexham will do nothing to dampen that pressure — the Reds’ second-half improvement was led by five substitutes signed by the regimes in place before him, replacing players he had brought to the club.
The two anomalies to that rule were Hutchinson and Nicolo Savona, the latter’s second-half showing down the right drawing into question why he has been immediately dropped from the first team upon the return of an unfit Ola Aina.
Hutchinson struggled in the first half, deployed as a number 10 and looking lost, improving after the break as he was moved out wide and had the guts to take on his man, unlike fellow wingers Dan Ndoye and Dilane Bakwa in the first period, the pair completely anonymous.
However, Dyche has to be questioned as to why he selected the midfield he did, deploying Hutchinson and James McAtee out of position in the most crucial area of the pitch cost Forest in both goals they conceded in the first period.
Once the second half drew around and Morgan Gibbs-White, Nico Dominguez and Neco Williams were introduced, Forest did pick up and created openings worthy of the Premier League status they held despite being taunted with by the gleeful home support throughout.
However, the side are still lacking patience in attack and the resilience to persist, often getting frustrated and going long after failed breaks forward rather than trying to build from the back again and recycle the attack.
The lack of resilience stems from a lack of motivation, something the manager must foster and build. Through Callum Hudson-Odoi (twice) and Igor Jesus, they scored three really neat and well-worked goals, but those openings were too sparse and came too far apart for Forest to muster any kind of pressure or dominance over a short period of time.
It almost feels like the players are being held back, devoid of the freedom to express they felt last season. The quality of the touch and finish from Hudson-Odoi for Forest’s last-minute equaliser proved the abundant quality they possess but exemplified how that quality is only seen in flashes, with Dyche’s substitutes working to a tee but the changes needed seeming crystal clear.
Apart from the fight to come from behind and bail him out, this Forest team resembles nothing of a side synonymous of Dyche. They are poor at set pieces in both boxes. They are prized open easily by a few quick passes in and around midfield. They look devoid of defensive confidence and have no threat from long balls.
And while his public criticisms of the players are frustrations shared by much of the fanbase, stating them to the media will do nothing to bring together or give confidence to the outcast members of the squad, on the same night castaway striker Arnaud Kalimuendo secured an assist eight minutes into his Eintracht Frankfurt debut.
The festive feast of football has been a nightmare for Nottingham Forest. Abject display following abject display, saved only by their narrow and pivotal win at West Ham on Tuesday. A week without Forest seems a welcome proposition for many supporters, as the search for depth in the January transfer window must begin if the Reds have any ambition of getting close to a comfortable Premier League finish or anywhere near the Europa League final.
Follow The Famous Club on:
Bluesky | Facebook | Flipboard | Google News | Instagram | Reddit | Threads | WhatsApp | X (Twitter)
