Ange Postecoglou's wait for a first win as Nottingham Forest manager continued as Sunderland secured a 1-0 victory at the City Ground. Omar Alderete's first-half header proved decisive, lifting the visitors into the Champions League places while Forest remain without a win in five games under the Australian.
Forest dominated possession with 65% and registered 22 attempts on goal, but a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Sunderland's Robin Roefs kept them at bay. Postecoglou pointed to his side's conversion rate as the key issue, saying: 'We can't create any more chances than we did but it's goals that win matches. We've got to have a much higher conversion rate.'
The only goal came from a controversial free-kick awarded against Nicolás Dominguez for simulation, though Postecoglou refused to blame the referee. 'Regardless, even if the ref's made an absolute howler, we can still defend the free-kick better,' he said. Granit Xhaka's delivery found Alderete, who stole in at the back post as Chris Wood switched off.
Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris praised his team's defensive organisation but acknowledged room for improvement. 'The win is important because we can't expect anything if we don't defend properly,' he said. 'We have to improve for example the way we build up the play under pressure.'
Forest introduced Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus in the second half to increase pressure, and Roefs was forced into several fine saves, notably from Omari Hutchinson and Elliot Anderson. Chris Wood had five attempts but missed the target with crucial headers. Postecoglou added: 'It's up to me to unlock that last bit.'
