Dyche 'is the man' to see Forest 'through this kind of storm'

Nottingham Forest’s season, once billed as their most promising in three decades, has veered into a nerve-shredding relegation fight that even the most pessimistic supporter could not have forecast in August. A 3-1 home defeat to Leeds United on Friday has intensified the gloom, leaving the City Ground faithful scanning the fixture list for the points that might preserve Premier League status.

The loss to Leeds, themselves resurgent after a bleak winter, was compounded by a patched-up back line: a goalkeeper still settling in, two full-backs operating out of position, and a key centre-back unavailable. Yet amid the wreckage there were flashes of encouragement from January arrivals Luca Netz and Lorenzo Lucca, whose cameos hinted they could yet shape the run-in.

With 13 matches remaining, the maths is stark but not insurmountable: four wins and a couple of draws should nudge Forest past the dotted line. The question is where those precious points will materialise. Fixtures against Liverpool, Brighton and Manchester City loom after a Europa League play-off with Fenerbahce, making the visit of Wolves on Wednesday a contest Forest can ill-afford to lose. Although Rob Edwards’ side sit in the drop zone alongside Burnley, recent form suggests no fixture is straightforward.

Manager Sean Dyche, nominated for January’s Manager of the Month award, carries the weight of expectation. “On paper, Sean Dyche is the man you want to see you through this kind of storm,” the club source admitted, before warning that accolades from last month count for little if performances mirror the Leeds display.

The wider picture offers little comfort. Five or six clubs are now jammed in the scramble to avoid 18th, and even Newcastle, currently 12th, are wobbling. A weekend without a fixture has afforded Forest a rare breather to reset, but the sense remains that every subsequent slip drags them closer to the Championship.

Nottingham Forest, European campaign and all, were meant to be looking up the table, not over their shoulders. Instead, they confront a spring defined by tension, where each kick of the ball could decide their fate.