‘All I wanted to do was wear this shirt’ – Sean Dyche on first Forest victory

Sean Dyche admitted he had “waited a long time for this moment” after beginning his Nottingham Forest tenure with a 2-0 win over Porto.

Penalties in each half from Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus guided Forest to victory, with plenty of encouraging signs as the Reds overcame a Porto side that had been unbeaten and conceded just two goals in all competitions before arriving in Nottingham.

“Do you know what’s brilliant? It’s where someone just mentioned the way I just stood and looked around. And I said, well, I’ve waited a long time for that moment,” Dyche said.

“You know, I was a young person in 1987. All I wanted to do was wear the shirt. It didn’t come my way. Probably wasn’t good enough at that time. And then to come back as manager is super pleasing. 

“To stand there and just absorb it, I just thought, be careful in football,” he continued.

“You know, I’ve learned in life, sometimes you’ve got to slow your thinking down and take it in. Because there’s so many big moments in my life that have been so nerve-wracking. They just go and suddenly they’re finished. So I just looked around and said, all right, come on then. Take that in and put it in the memory. That’s for sure.”

The atmosphere inside the City Ground was electric, with fans rallying behind the team in a way not seen all season, chanting their new manager’s name at full-time after he delivered Forest’s first win in Europe since 1996. 

Reflecting on the warm reception from the fans, Dyche replied: “Look, it’s early days for that. Of course, why wouldn’t you like that? I’ve just got here.

“It’s nice when they support you from the off. I will say, I think winning helps. But I did say, I mean, I’ve been here a long time as someone who lives in the area, but more recently after travelling around.

“But also, I always think the Forest fans are fair, and I’m not just saying it. Most fans are fair in one way or another, but some can be pretty harsh pretty quick. I think these fans are pretty fair.

“So, win, lose or draw, I think they see a team that are out there wearing the shirt with pride, putting everything on the pitch they can. I think they’ll accept that. Not forever, of course, you’ve got to win games. But I think to get it off with a good performance and a win is very pleasing for them.

“And if they can accept me and my staff and what’s going on, then that’s got to be a bonus.

“And it just hopefully will fast-track the feeling around the ground. And what we can hopefully give back.”

Forest will be eager to build on this win as they aim to move out of the relegation zone, beginning with a trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.