Chelsea beat Forest before Postecoglou sacked

Nottingham Forest’s turbulent start to the season reached a breaking point as Chelsea handed them a 2–0 defeat — a result that sealed the fate of manager Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked just hours later after only 39 days in charge.

The match at Stamford Bridge was another frustrating chapter in Forest’s chaotic campaign. Chelsea, still finding rhythm under Enzo Maresca, dominated possession and showed more conviction in front of goal. Cole Palmer opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half after Raheem Sterling was brought down inside the box. Later, Nicolas Jackson doubled the lead with a calm finish following a slick passing move, leaving Forest chasing shadows.

For Postecoglou, this was the latest in a string of disappointing performances that left Forest rooted in the bottom half of the table. His appointment — which followed his sudden exit from Tottenham — was seen as a bold move by Forest’s ownership, but his attacking philosophy failed to take root amid defensive lapses and lack of cohesion.

Club insiders described growing frustration over the team’s direction and the manager’s inability to stabilize results. Despite moments of promise in draws against Bournemouth and Everton, Forest’s defensive record was one of the league’s worst, conceding 13 goals in his six matches in charge.

The loss to Chelsea encapsulated the issues that haunted his brief tenure — porous defending, lack of structure, and an inability to turn possession into points. Fans voiced their displeasure as Forest’s winless streak stretched further, with chants calling for change echoing from the away end.

In a statement released later that evening, Nottingham Forest confirmed Postecoglou’s dismissal, citing “a need for immediate improvement and a reset of our footballing strategy.” The club thanked him for his “effort and professionalism” and noted that interim arrangements would be announced soon.

For Chelsea, the victory was an encouraging sign of progress under Maresca. The Blues looked sharp and disciplined, with Conor Gallagher controlling midfield and new signing Marc Cucurella putting in a confident display. It was their third straight win in all competitions, pulling them closer to the European spots.

Postecoglou’s 39-day reign will go down as one of the shortest managerial tenures in Premier League history — a stunning fall for a coach once hailed as a visionary. Forest now face the difficult task of regrouping yet again, as attention turns to who will be trusted to lead the team out of crisis.

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