Nottingham Forest faced Sturm Graz in a hard-fought UEFA Europa League encounter. Despite their offense, neither team was able to make it into the endzone leading to a scoreless tie. The stunning City Ground would host the titanic clash. Forest battled through the league phase to earn all five points and remained in contention for moving further in the tournament after the last-16 knockout round. To their credit, manager Sean Dyche showed his tactical nous throughout the match. This was an extremely brave managerial decision, making seven changes to the squad that had just drawn 2-2 away with fellow high-flyers Manchester United.
… the first half particularly was all Nottingham Forest, and with the ball they looked extremely good in causing a lot of enticing counter-attacks. Morgan Gibbs-White almost put them ahead but was denied by Sturm Graz’s stopper Oliver Christensen. Or Ryan Yates, who had a gilt-edged chance, heading wide from a Gibbs-White cross soon after the break. Despite their industry, Forest found it impossible to turn these opportunities into goal.
A Dominant Display
Everton boss Sean Dyche was happy with his players’ display as a whole – especially in the first half.
“I think particularly first half, dominant, not just with the ball, but dominating the chances created and the quality of chances,” – Sean Dyche
His comments reflected Nottingham Forest’s control over the game, as they exhibited better possession and attacking intent compared to their opponents. The players fought tooth and nail for each ball. Neco Williams marked Arjan Malic of Sturm on the left, and Nikola Milenkovic tried to defend against Emir Karic.
For all their attacking prowess, frustration mounted for the home team. In fact, that was most painful when Nicolas Dominguez’s effort hit the crossbar in stoppage time. There was a shared sense of disappointment, which Dyche expressed in his post-match comments.
“So more frustrated in the sense of not scoring a goal because the first half was a very dominant performance with the ball, but also creating good chances.” – Sean Dyche
The Tactical Shift
Tactical genius Dyche’s tactical tweaks proved all the more vital in this match. It was the seven changes that he made to the lineup that showcased his trust in the squad’s depth. Key players such as player of the season Elliot Anderson, goalkeeper Matz Sels and Murillo were missing. Much of this tactical flexibility has been key for Nottingham Forest as they’ve continued to navigate both domestic and European competitions.
Despite not securing a win, Dyche’s approach could bode well for Nottingham Forest’s prospects as they aim for advancement in the league phase. Last year, that was enough to see teams through to the knockout rounds. As one of the five points already secured on the board this young season will attest, hope springs eternal for both players and fans right now.
Looking Ahead
The 1–1 draw against Sturm Graz puts Nottingham Forest in a comfortable position. Now they’re prepared to muscle on through in the Europa League. In a hurry, Dyche has established himself as a clear leader. He was just the fourth English manager since the 2009-10 season to register a clean sheet in his first two UEFA Europa League fixtures.
Looking ahead to their next matches, it will be vital for Nottingham Forest to turn opportunities into finishes. The next two matches will be vital to their chances of making it through to the knockout rounds. They hope to increase their international profile in European football more generally.
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