Dyche demands substance over style to get Forest going

Sean Dyche said Nottingham Forest have to get back to basics if he is to turn around a disastrous start to the season that has already seen Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou sacked.

Dyche will take charge for the first time against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, returning to the City Ground where he began his playing career nearly 40 years ago.

The former Burnley and Everton boss’ direct playing style has been criticised in the past for lacking flair.

But those tactics are now in vogue in the Premier League with long throw-ins and long punts down the field from kick-off becoming commonplace this season.

“I have seen enough fashionistas come in and out of this division,” said Dyche on Wednesday.

“You’ve got to win the games, it’s as simple as that.

“Long ball, short ball? You’ve just got to play effective football. That will never go out of fashion.”

Forest tried to switch styles from Nuno’s more conservative counter-attacking approach to a more attack-minded manager in Postecoglou.

The Australian lasted just 40 days as he failed to win any of his eight games in charge.

After finishing seventh under Nuno last season to qualify for Europe for the first time in 30 years, Forest currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone and have just one point from their opening two Europa League matches.

“As a football manager, a football coach and football players you should be wanting more but the first thing is can we just stabilise the situation,” he added.

“It still needs the basics put back into the team from my point of view, because they have lost sight of that a little bit.”

Dyche added that Forst owner Evangelos Marinakis is realistic about the club’s prospects and recognises that Premier League survival is now their main priority for the campaign.

“He’s well aware of the challenges,” said Dyche. “I don’t think he thinks it’s a gimme just because of last season.”