Gibbs-White sparks win over Porto to give Nottingham Forest and Sean Dyche liftoff

Three days in the job, two training sessions and, most importantly, one victory. Sean Dyche succeeded where Ange Postecoglou had failed so miserably, winning at the first time of asking to get Nottingham Forest’s Europa League campaign truly up and running. “Forest are back,” sang the home support, who also chanted Dyche’s name en route to handing Porto their first defeat of the season.

More remarkably, this was also Forest’s first clean sheet since April. All in all, it must have been pretty satisfying viewing for Evangelos Marinakis, back in his seat in the directors’ box and last seen scarpering from the stadium midway through Postecoglou’s final game. Even the VAR gods were on Dyche’s side, both Forest goals stemming from interventions, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus scoring a penalty in each half.

“The A Block is still the A Block,” Dyche said of the supporters in the Main Stand who usually stand throughout matches, “if they back you, that’s always a good thing.” For Dyche, this is a job that, as he put it, rounds the circle after he began his career here as an apprentice under Brian Clough, whom the section opposite the dugouts is named after. The last time Forest won a game in European competition, against Lyon in the Uefa Cup in November 1995, Dyche’s longstanding assistants Ian Woan and Steve Stone were on the pitch. As Forest’s famous pre-match rendition of Mull of Kintyre reverberated around the stadium in the minutes before kick-off, a renewed optimism was detectable.

Dyche, in a blue club tracksuit, cut an animated figure on the touchline but, save for a glance at the watch, was unmoved when Forest seized the lead through Gibbs-White; the spot-kick was awarded after the Porto centre-back Jan Bednarek, previously of Southampton, was penalised for handling a cross towards Igor Jesus, one of three changes from Postecoglou’s final game in charge. Gibbs-White took a couple of deep breaths and sent Diogo Costa, the penalty specialist wearing No 99 in the Porto goal, the wrong way.

Marinakis applauded in the stands and the locals savoured the liftoff of another new era. Dan Ndoye and Callum Hudson-Odoi were also promoted to the starting lineup, Morato and Ibrahim Sangaré dropping to the bench. Taiwo Awoniyi, a shock starter against Chelsea, was absent altogether while Chris Wood and Dilane Bakwa were missing through injury.

Igor Jesus scores the second goal from the penalty spot to give Nottingham Forest a 2-0 victory against Porto. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images

Forest’s penalty was the first time Porto, unbeaten before arriving at the City Ground, had trailed all season. Francesco Farioli’s side oozed confidence from the first whistle, every outfield player but centre-back Jakub Kiwior lining up on halfway for kick-off. Forest, too, began on the front foot, Elliot Anderson blasting over inside a minute and Gibbs-White hunting down the ball. Dyche, viewed as Mr Pragmatic, waved his players forward.

Matz Sels was called into action to save an Alan Varela strike after a short corner but Dyche had to be content as he headed down the tunnel at the interval. Forest largely contained a free-scoring Porto side who had conceded just twice all season prior this trip. The only notable disappointment was the premature departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko who was forced off with a groin problem on the verge of half-time, Nicolò Savona arriving in his place. During the interval Forest paid tribute to Harley Pearce, son of club legend and former captain Stuart, who died in a tractor crash in Gloucestershire last week.

Forest have leaked goals from set pieces of late (only West Ham have conceded more from them in the Premier League) and six minutes into the second half Porto thought they had an equaliser after another short corner – until the video assistant referee flagged Samu Aghehowa offside. Bednarek tucked home from the edge of the six-yard box after Sels saved from Kiwior and then thwarted Aghehowa.

At that point Porto were preparing a triple substitution, the Brazilian teenager William Gomes among those introduced a few minutes later. Another sub, Gabriel Veiga, forced Sels into an awkward save from his inswinging corner.

Porto probed for an equaliser but just as they were beginning to shake Forest, the hosts doubled their advantage. Savona was initially booked for diving under pressure from Martim Fernandes but the Romanian referee, Radu Petrescu, headed to the VAR monitor for a second look and he overturned his decision. Gibbs-White handed Igor Jesus the honours. Every Forest player, bar Sels, joined the celebrations. Just like that, the mood in these parts has completely shifted.