How 'unbelievable' Nottingham Forest recovered key aspect that 'got lost' under Ange Postecoglou after Sean Dyche wins first game in charge

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Sean Dyche made an instant impact as Nottingham Forest manager, guiding his side to a hard-fought 2-0 win over Porto in the UEFA Europa League. It ended a 10-game winless run and lifted the mood at the City Ground. TNT Sports experts Fara Williams and Michail Antonio heaped praise on the performance of a "rejuvenated" Forest side, who climbed to 17th in the league phase table.

Highlights: Forest find form to beat Porto as Dyche gets off to flyer

Video credit: TNT Sports

Nottingham Forest rediscovered the "grit and determination" that had been absent under Ange Postecoglou in Thursday's UEFA Europa League win over Porto, according to TNT Sports expert Fara Williams.

New Forest manager Sean Dyche began his tenure with an impressive 2-0 victory on Thursday night, as a penalty in each half - scored by Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus - secured the points.

Former England international Williams noted the return of some important characteristics after Forest ended a run of 10 matches without a win and kept their first clean sheet since April.

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"Perfect night for Sean Dyche, the players and the fans," Williams said. "You heard the stadium absolutely erupt at full-time.

"Today wasn't so much about the performance for Forest, it was about getting a win, getting the fans back on board. You can just hear the roar, the songs.

"What the players showed today was the grit and determination we saw last season. That got lost a bit when Ange Postecoglou took over.

"They've gone back to what they're good at: the basics and fundamentals that made them so strong last season. I'm sure Sean Dyche will be over the moon with that performance tonight."

Watch as Gibbs-White scores penalty to get Dyche's Forest era off to strong start

Video credit: TNT Sports

Dyche was appointed as Forest boss on Tuesday after Postecoglou was sacked just 39 days into the job.

Michail Antonio echoed Williams' sentiments, describing the display against a previously unbeaten Porto side as "unbelievable".

"When they lost the ball, the pressing that they did, you saw that was a team together," Antonio said.

"They felt rejuvenated. Everyone knew what they were doing. They weren't overly trying to play out the back, they were finding the striker and playing off, getting it wide and switching play.

"It was exciting. It seemed like they've been doing it for years and they have with Nuno [Espirito Santo, the manager before Postecoglou]. Dyche has come in and done the exact same thing."

WATCH: Jesus doubles Forest's lead over Porto as home fans celebrate

Video credit: TNT Sports

There was a buoyant feeling at the City Ground after full-time, a far cry from the increasingly angry mood of recent weeks.

"It's a completely different atmosphere," Antonio added. "The Midtjylland game was very negative, you could feel the fans on edge. You could see they wanted a change.

"Today, everyone's quite upbeat, singing from the first minute to the last. There are so many fans still in the stadium. No one wants to leave. They're enjoying every minute of it."

Gibbs-White, who scored the opening goal, admitted after the game that victory was a relief.

"I feel like I can finally breathe," Gibbs-White told TNT Sports. "It's been a difficult couple of months here with all the changes that have happened here, some bad performances."

Gibbs-White after Forest win over Porto: 'I feel like I can finally breathe'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Williams pointed out the significance of the game's first goal for a Forest side in need of a confidence boost.

"You felt there was weight on these players' shoulders," she said. "After the opening goal, you could see they were saying 'stay focused'.

"That opening goal took a weight off the players and they were able to play their natural game."

Dyche takes charge of his first Premier League game as Forest boss against high-flying Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.

Then comes a home clash with Manchester United, before a return to Europa League action at Sturm Graz on November 6, a game that will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

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