Sean Dyche’s return to the Premier League got off to a rough start as his Nottingham Forest side slumped to a 2-0 defeat away at Bournemouth, a result that highlighted the challenges ahead for the new manager.
Dyche, who took over after the sacking of Ange Postecoglou, was visibly frustrated with his team’s physical performance. “The biggest disappointment was the drop-off physically. You saw a very high pressing team, and we never got to grips with that,” Dyche told Sky Sports. Despite only having five days to prepare, Dyche admitted his players were far below the physical standards required. “The first half was a long way short from where we want to be physically,” he added.
The defeat left Forest languishing in 18th place with just five points from their opening 10 matches, a situation that only deepens the pressure on Dyche. Forest’s participation in the Europa League has compounded the challenge, leaving them with a tight fixture schedule and limited preparation time. “It’s tough because we’ve only got so many working days. We’ve got so many games, but we’ve got to find a way,” Dyche explained, optimistic despite the difficult start.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth continue their impressive run under Andoni Iraola, who guided them to second place in the Premier League with the win. “It’s definitely a very good start, but it’s just a start,” Iraola cautioned. “The differences between teams are so small. It’s going to be difficult for us to earn more points, but we have to try.”
Forest now face an uphill battle as they attempt to bounce back from their early struggles and climb out of the relegation zone.
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