Ange Postecoglou refused to bite back at the Nottingham Forest fans who taunted him with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” during the Europa League defeat to Midtjylland tonight.
Postecoglou has not won in six games since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground and had to listen to disgruntled fans call for his dismissal as the Danish side won 3-2.
Forest were made to pay for some lax first-half defending that saw Ousmane Diao and Mads Bech score from set-pieces either side of a Dan Ndoye goal for the hosts.
The home side poured forward in search of a late equaliser – Chris Wood twice denied goals by the offside flag – but were left exposed at the back and Valdemar Andreasen made them pay to make it 3-1 on the break.
Wood did pull one back from the penalty spot but it was too late.
I heard chants – Postecoglou
Asked about the fans’ reaction, the Australian told TNT Sports: “I heard it. They’re fans, they want to see their team win, and they’re entitled to their opinion.
“Nothing surprises me in football any more. Just got to keep going. There is no hiding in the sport we’re in. Got to keep your head up and recover. We have a tough game against Newcastle at the weekend.”
Forest are 17th in the Premier League table and have taken one point from their first two games in the Europa League.
And the former Spurs boss accepts his team need to start winning games soon.
He added: “Progress is us winning games of football and we haven’t done that.
“The football has been compelling at times, but you have got to keep winning games of football and that’s what we will keep trying to do.”
Postecoglou wants more desire from his Forest players
Forest were undone by some poor defending from set-pieces, as they were against Sunderland at the weekend, and Postecoglou questioned his players’ desire to put their bodies on the line.
“Really disappointing. Just really, really poor goals we conceded in the first half,” he said.
“Allowed the opposition to get comfortable in the game. Story of our last few games – key moments let us down.
“Nothing organisational, just in those moments we have not shown the same desire and determination as the opposition.”
