Consistency remains a concern for Nottingham Forest, but in the Premier League, they must avoid complacency.
The Reds performed poorly on Thursday night, losing 1-0 to Braga in the Europa League. The team that faces Brentford today (2pm kick-off) will have undergone significant changes, and head coach Sean Dyche will expect an entirely different performance.
Forest’s last league game resulted in a well-earned 0-0 draw at home to league leaders Arsenal. Under Dyche, they have typically performed well against the so-called stronger clubs; but, they have struggled in other fixtures.
The point against the pacesetters, along with three against relegation rivals West Ham United, puts them in a good position to fight for safety. But the task is far from finished, and the Reds cannot afford to believe differently.
In the middle of the week, the visitors were unimpressive. The subsequent reaction was caustic and critical, prompting further questions about Dyche’s job performance.
The absence of a striker on the night didn’t help matters – albeit the club can only blame themselves for not bringing in a replacement as soon as Arnaud Kalimuendo went on loan – but it was still impossible to justify that performance. Some of the players who were given another shot by making the starting XI in Portugal may find it difficult to get another.
Whether Dyche should have gone stronger on Thursday night is another question. Balancing the demands of various competitions is difficult, but Forest’s perceived strength in depth from the summer has not materialized as expected.
“You are trying to get all players to sing off the same songsheet and deliver it in all competitions – and they might not play in all competitions,” Dyche remarked when asked about Forest’s consistency levels. “This isn’t an easy task.
“In terms of league form, we had a difficult stretch, but we came out with a win and a draw (against West Ham and Arsenal), then we won three Europa League games.
“I believe we handled it well. But okay isn’t good enough for me. I want more than just okay.
“I’m trying to encourage the players to understand that while the game schedule provides them with an excellent chance, it also presents a difficulty. It’s the knife edge.”
