Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland are flying while Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest have not got off the ground, as Robin Roefs’ latest goalkeeping display helped Sunderland past Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Saturday at the City Ground.
WATCH — Nottingham Forest v Sunderland full match replay
Omar Alderete’s first Premier League goal put the Black Cats ahead and they defended so well down the stretch, taking advantage of a few glaring missed chances from their dominant visitors.
Sunderland improves to 3W-2D-1L in their Premier League return, good for third place on the Premier League table heading into Sunday, while Forest drop to 1-2-3, just two points off the early season bottom three.
Pragmatism from Postecoglou not providing points
We’ll praise Le Bris, Roefs, and Granit Xhaka in due time, but there’s no question that Forest were sincerely the better team once Postecoglou made his halftime subs. The Forest boss bet big that he could get a win, or at least a draw, while giving Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Igor Jesus almost a complete rest between Europa League fixtures. Sunderland’s goal off a silly Nicolas Dominguez yellow card for embellishment changed the story, and chasing games is often a problem against a confident group of defenders. Forest put in their bigger names into the game and dominated but Roefs made their 17 second-half shots and 67% possession amount to the proverbial hill of beans.
The Roefs is on fire
Forest put six shots on target and Robin Roefs shrugged them away. Sunderland’s goalkeeper has made precious few mistakes this season and their back line is committed to the safety fight as the Black Cats rang up 32 clearances on Saturday. Regis Le Bris has this team playing with spirit, something certainly aided by PL veteran Granit Xhaka, and they brushed off the absence of star Habib Diarra to not just get a point from the City Ground but all three. The former Lorient boss may well be the Premier League Manager of the Month.
Ange Postecoglou reaction
What happened? “Another game that got away from us. That’s the story of the last four, five games. We controlled the game, didn’t take our chances, and a real disappointing goal we conceded.”
Controversial award of a free kick to Sunderland before the goal: “It wasn’t a free kick but there’s nothing we can do about that. We should’ve dealt with the free kick better anyway.”
“We had enough chances to win it or at least get something out of the game but we’ve been pretty wasteful in front of goals with the chances we’ve created and that means we haven’t been able to get the points we needed. Disappointed but we need to dust ourselves off for the next challenge.”
Still early in your project: “It’s not a project. I said that at the start. We should be winning these games and that’s up to me to fix. Our football is progressing for sure. We’ve changed a hell of a lot, I understand that. But at the same time the players have embraced that and it’s certainly giving us the right kind of advantages in the game of football but we’ve still got to win the game. That’s something we need to piece together now.”
What’s next?
Forest host Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday, then go to Newcastle United at 9am ET Sunday.
Sunderland look to keep their good vibes rolling when they head to Old Trafford to meet Ruben Amorim’s wounded Manchester United at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday (September 27)
Venue: City Ground — Nottingham
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland final score: 0-1
Omar Alderete 38'
Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland live updates — by Nick Mendola
Full time — Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland
That second half goes Forest way’s nine times out of 10 for at least a point.
Regis Le Bris is fine with this being the exception. Sunderland go third!
More changes
Omari Hutchinson takes Bakwa’s place for Forest, and Sunderland answer by adding center back Daniel Ballard and taking off playmaker Enzo Le Fee.
Robin Roefs!
Sunderland’s heroic goalkeeper is at it again, pawing an Igor Jesus header away from the far post. That comes not too long after a double save.
Forest really pushing here in the 74th minute.
More Forest changes
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus are into the game just before the hour mark.
Out go Dan Ndoye and James McAtee.
Sunderland subs
Chris Rigg and Arthur Masuaku depart in the 59th minute.
Bertrand Traore and Lutsharel Geertruida enter the fray.
Morgan Gibbs-White on
Postecoglou might’ve wanted to give Gibbs-White the day off between Europa League contests but he needs his star for the second half.
Or maybe it was the plan, as Dominguez comes out of the game at halftime of his return from injury.
Either way, we’re back in play with the hosts down one.
Halftime — Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland
The Black Cats took their chance, and Forest will have to make changes.
It’s even and it shouldn’t be, as perhaps the midweek European scrap is wearing on the hosts.
Shots are 3-3 but Forest have had the lion’s share of the ball and are the better side.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Omari Hutchinson, and Igor Jesus are all available off the bench.
Omar Alderete goal — Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Under VAR review, but the Black Cats in front!
A free kick is chipped over the line of defenders, and Alderete’s run is perfect.
He heads off Sels and it still manages to make its way over the line.
Goal!
Forest getting into 18
This has definitely become the hosts’ game but so far the final ball has been absent despite the efforts of Elliot Anderson, Chris Wood, and Neco Williams.
0-0, 28'.
Forest let-off
Multiple Tricky Trees get their limbs all wrong and Wilson Isidor snatches at a loose ball, watching it spin wide of the post.
Could easily be 1-0 to the Black Cats after eight minutes, yet it remains 0-0.
Underway!
Can Ange’s men get a home win? Sunderland are without Habib Diarra while Forest bring Nicolas Dominguez back into the team.
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Williams, Morato, Milenkovic, Zinchenko, Anderson, Dominguez, McAtee, Ndoye, Bakwa, Wood
Sunderland lineup
Roefs, Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Masuaku, Xhaka, Sadiki, Talbi, Rigg, Le Fee, Isidor
Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Forest drew 1-1 at Burnley last weekend and were leading 2-1 away at Real Betis in the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday, but coughed up a late goal to draw. Postecoglou has a great squad to work with and his very specific methods obviously take time to bed in, but he needs a big win in this game to kick-start his time in charge of Forest.
New boys Sunderland have been excellent in the opening weeks of the season, with eight points from five games a magnificent return. Regis Le Bris saw his side scrap impressively for a point at home to Aston Villa last weekend, as they had Reinildo sent off in the first half. The Black Cats are solid defensively, dangerous on transitions and love to whip in crosses.
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
The main injury concern for Forest is Ola Aina who remains out, while Douglas Luiz also out after suffering a hamstring issue during the draw at Real Betis. Murillo could return at center back after missing the last few games. Igor Jesus has scored four goals in six appearances for Forest, including two at Betis, and it will be intriguing to see if he or Chris Wood will lead the line. Postecoglou has so many options in midfield and attack and he is likely to rotate heavily from the team which started at Betis in midweek.
OUT: Murillo (thigh), Douglas Luiz (hamstring), Ola Aina (undisclosed), Nicolas Dominguez (knee)
Sunderland team news, focus
Reinildo is suspended after his red card while Habib Diarra is out with a groin injury which is a big blow as he’s been superb in midfield in the opening weeks of the season. Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has been instrumental in their great start to the new season and the Black Cats will have to try and control the tempo of this game and pick their moments to hit Forest on the counter. Young goalkeeper Robin Roefs has been sensational, while Isidor, Mayenda, Talbi and Le Fee have all been really good going forward too.
OUT: Habib Diarra (groin), Reinildo (suspension), Romaine Mundle (thigh), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (achilles), Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Aji Alese (shoulder) | QUESTIONABLE: Luke O’Nien (shoulder)
Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland prediction
This feels like Forest will just edge it but it will not be easy for Ange’s side to break Sunderland down. Nottingham Forest 2-1 Sunderland.
