Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner acknowledged the club are still feeling the after-effects of last season after his side lost 1-0 at the City Ground to Coventry City, their third home game of the campaign without scoring.
Home form under scrutiny
The defeat, sealed by Jay DaSilva's long run and finish, left Forest in 13th place in the Premier League heading into the international break, two points above Coventry. Glasner described a tangible sense of tension at the ground when the goal went in and said it mirrored difficulties experienced last season.
"When we conceded, the entire City Ground was nervous; I think this is the reason of last year. There is nobody to blame; the solution is to play with more freedom and more confidence."
Forest had built momentum with back-to-back draws against top opposition prior to the Coventry game, but the latest result underlines continuing problems in converting chances at home. Glasner said the players "gave everything until the end" but criticised a single mistake that proved decisive: a long ball from the goalkeeper that led to the Sky Blues' only goal.
What the results mean
This campaign marks the first time in the club's history that they have failed to score at the City Ground in their opening three league fixtures. The sequence reads as follows:
- Tottenham Hotspur – 0-0 (home draw)
- Leeds United – 0-1 (home defeat)
- Coventry City – 0-1 (home defeat)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current league position | 13th |
| Points gap to Coventry | 2 points |
| Home goals so far | 0 |
Glasner insisted the answer will not be found by assigning blame but by restoring belief and encouraging a freer style of play. He described the dressing-room atmosphere after the match as "very quiet" — a sign, he suggested, of lingering pressure from the previous season's difficulties.
Local impact and next steps
For supporters, the start to the season will raise concern about the City Ground as a fortress and the squad's ability to convert territory and possession into goals. The manager faces the immediate task of lifting confidence during the international break and finding tactical or personnel adjustments to spark a return to scoring at home.
Forest travel next for league fixtures after the break; supporters will be watching closely to see whether Glasner's call for "more freedom and more confidence" produces measurable change when competitive football resumes.
