Did Dyche merit dismissal at Nottingham Forest?

By Martin Graham

Seven days after being shortlisted for January’s manager of the month prize, Sean Dyche found himself out of work. Two results proved decisive: a loss at Leeds United and a scoreless stalemate against bottom club Wolves on Wednesday night.

Those outcomes persuaded owner Evangelos Marinakis to end Dyche’s four-month spell at the City Ground. From Dyche’s perspective, the timing felt harsh, especially given a recent run that had included encouraging league performances.

The nomination followed victories over Brentford and a struggling West Ham United, a narrow defeat to third-placed Aston Villa, and a home draw with leaders Arsenal. Momentum, at least on paper, had not entirely vanished.

Beyond the league, Forest’s calendar since the new year reflected inconsistency rather than collapse. An FA Cup elimination on penalties against Championship side Wrexham was followed by a Europa League loss to Sporting Braga, before a heavy win over Ferencváros secured a place in the knockout phase play-off.

Numbers that offered some protection

Measured across the 18 league fixtures Dyche oversaw from his arrival on 21 October, Forest ranked 12th in a form table. Six victories and 22 points represented a stronger return than that achieved by the club’s previous two coaches combined over the same span.

A success rate of 33.3% stood out as the highest of Dyche’s Premier League career, improving on his records at both Burnley and Everton. Within Forest’s recent top-flight history, that ratio placed him third among the club’s eight permanent managers.

Despite those figures, Forest remained in 17th position when Dyche departed, only one place better than when he took charge. Home form proved a sticking point, with just three league wins at the City Ground and none since mid-December.

Supporter frustration had been building, becoming audible during the defeat in Braga when travelling fans jeered at full time. Results away from Nottingham had offered balance, but patience inside the stadium was wearing thin.

Goals missing, patience thinning

A persistent scoring problem shaped much of the criticism. Forest’s record of 25 league goals left them ahead of only Wolves in the division’s scoring charts.

Chris Wood, the club’s leading Premier League marksman, was unavailable throughout Dyche’s tenure after suffering a knee injury in the final match under predecessor Ange Postecoglou. His absence placed added strain on an attack that struggled for efficiency.

Wednesday’s draw with Wolves highlighted the issue starkly. Forest attempted 35 efforts without finding the net, the highest such tally by any side in almost ten years.

Whoever becomes the club’s fourth permanent head coach of the campaign will inherit the same challenge: turning possession and pressure into goals.

Dressing-room doubts and an early ending

While statistical indicators suggested Dyche broadly met expectations, questions lingered over the durability of his approach. He maintained that selections and tactics were dictated by the tools available, and until recently, results had justified that stance.

Still, with players such as Murillo, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi at his disposal, greater attacking fluency was anticipated. Internally, some felt methods leaned too heavily toward physical attributes.

Dyche initially struck a chord with supporters by referencing club heritage, evoking memories of Brian Clough and his dog Del-Boy, and recalling runs along the River Trent from his youth-team days. The lift was real, but it proved temporary.

Behind the scenes, sources indicated difficulty in building rapport with sections of the squad. Players questioned training routines and tactical plans, and their views were sought after the defeat at Leeds. Full backing was not forthcoming.

By that stage, alternatives were already under review, with Vitor Pereira identified as a leading option before the Elland Road setback. Discussions continued, paving the way for Dyche’s dismissal in the early hours of Thursday.

The decision was not taken lightly, yet his appointment had been shaped by urgency following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure and Postecoglou’s short stay. Whether the change proves decisive now places scrutiny on Marinakis as Forest searches for stability once more.