By Louis Sealey
Copyright metro
Ange Postecoglou is already under huge pressure at Nottingham Forest (Picture: Getty)
Ange Postecoglou has responded to his own Nottingham Forest fans chanting for him to be sacked during the Europa League defeat to Midtjylland.
European football returned to the City Ground for the first time in 29 years on Thursday night but Danish side Midtjylland spoiled the celebrations with a 3-2 win.
Forest’s latest defeat means ex-Tottenham boss Postecoglou has failed to win any of his opening six games since replacing fans’ favourite Nuno Espirito Santo last month, conceding 13 goals in that time.
Towards the end of the Midtjylland defeat, a large section of the home fanbase could be heard chanting ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ towards Postecoglou, who guided Spurs to Europa League glory last season.
There was also raucous boos directed at the team and manager at half-time and after the full-time whistle was blown at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest drew with Real Betis in their Europa League opener under Nuno but the Midtjylland loss leaves them just 25th in the 36-strong table.
The tests do not get any easier for Forest who travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United this weekend.
Midtjylland celebrate their win at the City Ground (Picture: Getty)
Asked whether he was aware of the chants during the game, Postecoglou said: ‘Yeah, I heard it. They’re fans, they want to see their team win and they’re entitled to their opinion.’
Pressed on if he was surprised by the fans’ reaction just 23 days into his tenure, Postecoglou said: ‘Nothing surprises me in football anymore.’
On the game as a whole, Postecoglou added: ‘Really, really disappointing. We conceded really poor goals which allowed our opponents to get comfortable.
Postecoglou during Nottingham Forest’s Europa League defeat (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s been the story of our last few games, we’re letting ourselves down in the key moments. We knew the threat they provided but we haven’t shown the same desire or determination in those moments.
‘We need to keep going, there’s no hiding place in the sport we’re in. We need to keep our heads up, recover well and make sure we’re ready for the weekend.’
Postecoglou become the first permanent Nottingham Forest manager for 100 years to fail to win any of his first six games in charge of the club.
Discussing the former Celtic manager’s poor start, ex-Forest boss Martin O’Neill said: ‘First of all, I’m not an apologist for a manager, but I do feel in a sense Ange Postecoglou has taken over from a very popular manager in Nuno.
‘I don’t think the crowd were too happy about the way that he lost the job and secondly it is not happening for them.
‘You consider it has been 30 years [since European football for Forest]. The crowd were right behind the team at the start and to be booed off at half-time and full time is not great news.
‘Ange Postecoglou has to stay positive. That is difficult at this minute. It is a tough fixture up there [Newcastle] for him. They have got to show more desire, particular the set-pieces. They have to be vigilant.’
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