Dyche targets fresh start to survive dark Forest

NOTTINGHAM Forest will be hoping it is third time lucky as new manager Sean Dyche takes over the reins of the two-time European champions for the visit of Porto in the Uefa Europa League tonight.

- 

Dyche, already Forest's third boss of a turbulent season, has arrived at the City Ground to take charge of a side seeking their first win in the competition after garnering just one point from their two previous outings.

Appointed on Tuesday to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, who won the Europa League last term with Tottenham but lasted only 40 days at Forest, Dyche will know that only victory will suffice to keep tempestuous owner Evangelos Marinakis happy.

For the 54-year-old, his Forest debut marks a personal milestone as it will be his first time in the dugout for a European match proper since starting in senior management 14 years ago at Watford.

In 2018/19, his Burnley side played in the Europa League playoffs but were beaten by Olympiacos and missed out on the league stage.

Dyche has built a reputation as a pragmatic manager who delivers results, if not always spectacular football.

“There's some real talent here, so our job now is to find that balance,” Dyche told the club’s website on Tuesday.