Rabiu AminuSean Dyche expressed great satisfaction following Nottingham Forest’s impressive 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, labeling it a “very pleasing” result and a clear sign of the squad’s progress. He was particularly happy with the collective response from the entire squad, which saw changes following a midweek win, noting that the players are beginning to grasp their “roles and responsibilities.”
The core of Dyche’s reaction focused on the return of what he calls the “basics” of the game—the strong shape, distances, will, and desire—which he previously felt were missing in a recent loss. He stressed that work ethic is paramount, referencing the saying that “skill without will is worth nothing.” Dyche explained that this work ethic provides the “glue” that holds a performance together, in turn granting players the “freedom to go and play” and ensuring they are willing to press, recover, and maintain their shape.
The manager was delighted with the variety of goals, noting the first came directly from an effective press on the opponent. He was thrilled with Ibrahim Sangaré’s long-range third goal, calling it a “great strike,” and while playfully suggesting Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second goal was a cross, he praised the winger’s hard work, particularly in his tactical understanding and effort “out of possession.” Dyche also celebrated the team’s balanced approach, stating the players were finding “the right ball” consistently throughout the match.
Regarding team news, Dyche confirmed the absences of Matz Sels (groin issue) and Nicolas Dominguez (flared knee) were a “judgment call.” He prioritized resting them to prevent longer lay-offs during a busy period. He gave high praise to debutant goalkeeper John Victor, who stepped in for Sels and delivered a “brilliant” and “solid” clean sheet performance.
Finally, Dyche welcomed the upcoming eight-day break after a demanding run of midweek fixtures. He intends to use the time to conduct more deep fitness work, which has been difficult under the recent “play, recover” schedule. The goal remains to instill a “relentless” mentality in his players so that doing the right things becomes an “automatic behavior” whether they are winning or losing.
Rabiu Aminu
