Postecoglou up for Nottingham Forest ‘fight’ as winless run goes on

Ange Postecoglou said his belief in his ability to turn Nottingham Forest’s fortunes around has not “wavered one bit” despite a seven-game winless start to his reign.

Forest were beaten 2-0 at Newcastle on Sunday just days after home fans at the City Ground called for Postecoglou to be sacked during a 3-2 defeat to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

“I knew it was a big challenge walking in. That’s what it is and there’s nothing wrong with that,” said the Australian.

“I don’t get why people kind of think that this is a burden in any way. I love a challenge, the alternative is that I would be sitting at home watching the game on TV and I don’t want do that. I want to be in the middle of it.

“That’s where I am and the belief I had and the confidence I had going into the job hasn’t wavered one bit.”

Postecoglou’s hire was seen as a brave bet by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis given his drastically different style of play to his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo.

Forest overachieved under Nuno last season to finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for European competition for the first time in 30 years.

Postecoglou believes performances have merited more than the five defeats and two draws he has picked up in his seven games.

Forest head into the international break sitting just above the relegation zone in the Premier League, out of the League Cup and with only one point from their opening two Europa League games.

“The results don’t reflect I think the way we’ve sort of embraced what we want to do, but the results will come,” he added.

“In the meantime, it’s a struggle and it’s a fight and there’s nothing wrong with that.

“We don’t want everything sort of handed to us on a platter, you’ve gotta fight for things, I’ve fought for things my whole life, so it’s just another fight that I love to be in the middle of.”