How Nuno got his revenge and played vital role in Nottingham Forest sacking Sean Dyche
The race for Premier League survival is heating up.
With Leeds sitting six clear of 18th-placed West Ham, the chances are that the fight to pull away from the final relegation spot will be between West Ham and Nottingham Forest – two clubs who have a unique shared history this term.
After securing European football last term, current Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo lost his job at Forest just three games into the season following an uncertain period involving club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Replacement Ange Postecoglou would last just 39 days at the City Ground, before he too was replaced by Sean Dyche.
Now, with West Ham locked in a relegation battle with the Garibaldi, Dyche has become the third manager to lose his position following a 0-0 draw with Wolves.
And in a remarkable turn of events, the clash between the two clubs was initiated by the very man in the Hammers’ dugout ahead of the season’s crunch point.
West Ham and Nottingham Forest have shared a unique story
The simple fact of the matter is that it would have been ridiculous to suggest that Nuno would have lost his job in the East Midlands in the early stages of the season, nevermind after just three matches.
Though the Portuguese coach would lose his job after just 21 months, with his position being insecure even before the season started.
Prior to Forest’s 3-1 victory on opening day against Brentford, Nuno would speak critically of the senior figures at Forest, describing his squad as “unbalanced” and “very, very far” from being set for the campaign.
After spending around £180 million on talent as Forest prepared for Europe, passionate figure Marinakis was naturally disgruntled, before Nuno’s time at the club came to an end after 21 months.
And it would be this decision that has left Forest in the relegation battle they find themselves in – in a year expected to be a high after securing European football for the first time since 1995.
West Ham turnaround sparked Dyche sack at Forest
It is difficult to pinpoint a club who have been more unsettled than Nottingham Forest this season.
Nuno’s replacement, Ange Postecoglou, was replaced by Dyche after failing to win any of his eight matches in charge – something hardly surprising when the contrasting styles of play of Nuno and the Aussie are considered.
Dyche arrived to pick up a downtrodden squad with a size of 29, only thinner than the 30 of Chelsea, while Nuno would move to the London Stadium in September following the sacking of Graham Potter.
Forest would secure a 13th-place finish in the Europa League, though their league form would suffer, with the club losing 13 of their 26 matches to date.
West Ham’s recent run under Nuno of picking up 10 points from 15 has left them within touching distance of Forest.
It is this reason that Forest chiefs have got twitchy and pulled the plug when they have.
And with another coincidence, it would be Nuno’s former club Wolves – where he is very much adored – who saw out Dyche’s final 90 minutes in charge, as Forest drew 0-0 against the bottom dwellers.
With Forest now on the hunt for their fourth manager of the season, they prepare to take on Liverpool at the City Ground, while West Ham host Bournemouth.
The Hammers’ rivals are once again unsettled, and they have to take advantage of the situation that was all started by the man in their own dugout.