Sunderland (H) 27/09/25

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland

                                                        Alderete 38'

After 4 consecutive away games, it was finally time for Ange and the City Ground to meet. He was still awaiting his first win as Forest boss, but some would say that the performances have been improving, especially after that first half in Betis. The Australian completely changed his front four with Wood, Ndoye, Bakwa and McAtee all starting. After 4 months out with a knee injury, Nicolas Dominguez came back into midfield to partner Anderson.

This is the two clubs first meeting in the top-flight since 1997 and their first meeting in any league in nearly 8 years. The Black Cats earned promotion back to the Premier League via the playoffs last season and have started brilliantly, earning 8 out of 15 points. Sunderland have won five out of the last seven encounters against Forest. However, the visitors are yet to score away from home this season.

Sunderland started the game the brighter side, almost taking the lead just ten minutes in. Granit Xhaka headed the ball down for Talbi deep into Forest’s defensive half. Talbi looked to find Isador, who was running into the box but Morato got there first. He passed to Dominguez but the Argentinian couldn’t get the ball out of his feet allowing Isador to pimch the ball just inside the penalty area. He swiped at the ball first time, but his effort rolled just past the post as it curled.

The hosts managed to see off the early Sunderland pressure and build some momentum. Their first real chance came as Williams kept an attack alive following a corner by whipping in a cross. However, Wood could only head just over the bar. Forest kept this rhythm up, keeping Sunderland on the back foot. However, it was the Black Cats who snatched the lead. In a strange moment, Dominguez cleared the ball and looked to have been caught on the foot so he went down. Referee, Tony Harrington decided that the midfielder had dived so he booked him and gave Sunderland an indirect free-kick from 30 yards out. Xhaka lofted the dead ball towards the back post where it was met by the run of an unmarked Alderete. He headed past Sels after lazy marking from Wood.

In the last minute of the first half, Dan Ndoye came close to finding an equaliser. Neco Williams whipped in a cross from the right which evaded everyone in the box. The Swiss international was at the far post to recycle. He took a few touches before looking for the bottom right corner, but the ball rolled just past the post with the help of a deflection.

Just like they started the first half, Sunderland came out in the second half the sharper side, although they couldn’t make any clear-cut chances. Instead, it was the hosts with the first good chance of the half. Hudson-Odoi was up against Traore on the left before he passed back to Anderson. He took a few touches to better the angle before shooting low looking for the bottom left corner where Roefs got down to tip it behind. He would have loved a goal against his boyhood club’s rivals.

The Reds were now keeping Sunderland deep in their own half in search of an equaliser. However, it took until the 68^th minute for Forest to register their first shot on target. In a frantic minute of the game, Forest had three chances at goal. Sunderland were looking to get themselves up the field after winning the ball back from Hutchinson down the right. Hutchinson was eager to win the ball back which he did, tackling Hume in his own box. Igor Jesus’s shot was blocked but it fell back to Hutchinson whose shot was saved by the outstretched leg of Roefs. The Black Cats managed to put the ball out for a throw in. Williams threw to Hutchinson who whipped a ball in from the right. It was met by the head of Igor Jesus, his effort saved by the stretching hand of Roefs.

Forest continued in their search for an equaliser, testing Sunderland’s defencive efforts. Hutchinson sent in a cross from the right where it looked like an unmarked Wood was going to score a trademark header. He could only head agonisingly wide of the left post. The Kiwi had an effort just moments before where his first time finish from another Hutchinson cross was hit straight at Roefs.

Next up, it was one of Forest’s defenders turn to salvage a late point. Just outside the Sunderland box, Hudson-Odoi teed up Morato who decided to let fly. He hit the strike cleanly, but it could only fly just wide of the right post. Up the other end, the Black Cats had the opportunity to seal the lead late on. Geertruida picked up the ball 30 yards out and ran past multiple red shirts until he took a shot on the edge of the 6-yard box. Sels made himself big to prevent a goal and his save gave his side the chance to snatch something. However, they couldn’t and Postecgolou still awaits his first win as Forest manager.

I don’t think our performance was as bad as everyone is making out. We played some nice football at times and yes, the build-up play was slow sometimes, but Sunderland defended very well and kept such a tight shape that was hard to break down. I also think they defended their box very well, clearing a lot of danger that we put into the box. Ndoye looked bright in that first half but the impact from Hudson-Odoi and especially Hutchinson helped a lot. Hutchinson was putting some brilliant deliveries into the box and I want to see more of him. We do have a problem when going into the break in a losing position as we are winless in 53 Premier League games when in that position. I think we need to give Ange time because the performances have definitely improved, we just need to start taking chances. This season we’ve only scored a third of our ‘big’ chances. People were saying that against Betis it was the best half they’ve seen in ages and just three days later, they want him out. We need to stick with him because it will get better.

Forest: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Morato, Zinchenko; Dominguez (Gibbs-White 46’), Anderson; Bakwa (Hutchinson 72’), McAtee (Igor Jesus 60’), Ndoye (Hudson-Odoi 60’); Wood (Kalimuendo 90’)

Sunderland: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Masuaku (Geertruida 59’); Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi (Brobbey 85’), Rigg (Traore 59’), Le Fee (Ballard 75’); Isador (Adingra 85’)