Nottingham Forest have sacked head coach Sean Dyche following a goalless draw with rock-bottom Wolves at the City Ground. Owner Evangelos Marinakis, watching from his throne, endured 90 minutes of wasteful finishing and sloppy play, with fans directing boos and insults at Dyche at full-time. It proved to be the third coaching dismissal of the season for Forest.
Forest registered 35 shots but rarely tested Wolves goalkeeper José Sá, missing a golden opportunity to climb further away from the relegation zone. The result moved them only one point above 18th-placed West Ham. Dyche's methods had reportedly caused discontent among the players in recent weeks, a key factor in Marinakis's decision to act swiftly after the match.
“There’s no lack of respect for me from the owner here, he’s been first class to me since I’ve been here,” Dyche said. “People can demand change and then it’s up to the owners whether they change it or not. If the owner wants to make a change, that’s the way football is now.” The club confirmed his departure in a brief statement, thanking him and his staff for their efforts.
On the pitch, Lorenzo Lucca's wayward finish from a six-on-one counter-attack summed up Forest's night. Omari Hutchinson sent two successive corners into the side netting, drawing the crowd's ire. Captain Morgan Gibbs-White called for unity between players and supporters. Wolves, showing why they are bottom, failed to register a shot on target until the second half, but Forest could not capitalise.
Dyche had lost only once in six games, but the style of football became grating. He had been tasked with fixing problems left by predecessors, including Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou. Forest now await a fourth head coach of the season as they seek a quick appointment.
