"It feels unfair but I don't want to be complaining and feeling as victims." Oliver Glasner's words offer a positive outlook as he believes Nottingham Forest deserve more following their disappointing start to the season. They visit Ipswich Town on Friday following three straight defeats during an underwhelming opening which has left them in the Premier League's relegation zone. It was not a position they expected to be in after appointing Glasner in the summer, following his exit from Crystal Palace.
They have been agonisingly close to successful results, wasting golden chances before losing at Palace and nearly hung on for a battling point against champions Arsenal last Sunday. There is belief that progress is being made, but it needs to translate on the pitch. There is also confidence internally Forest are still on the right track under Glasner, who has impressed with his methods and personality.
He was brought in to take Forest to the next level after lifting the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League with Palace. Glasner is impatient to repeat that success, detailing how owner Evangelos Marinakis is the only person he has met with more ambition than him. The 52-year-old has also said he is not a magician and has already spoken to Marinakis about previous slow starts.
He won just one of his opening six games at Palace after replacing Roy Hodgson in February 2024 and then did not win any of his first eight games in his first full season with the Eagles in 2024-25. That campaign finished with Palace beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final to end a 119-year wait for a first major trophy. Glasner has reiterated the need for a strategy and consistency at Forest and it is just over a year since Ange Postecoglou's 39-day reign ended after six defeats and no wins in eight games.
Sean Dyche lasted a little over 100 days and while Vitor Pereira took Forest to the Europa League semi-finals and achieved top-flight survival, he was sacked just two minutes before a termination clause expired in June. Glasner's consistency is starting to become clear with a preferred line-up crystalising with Neco Williams, Matz Sels, Dan Ndoye, Murillo and James McAtee starting every league game. Morgan Gibbs-White would have done so on Sunday too but for a muscle injury.
Club captain Ryan Yates is yet to play a minute, Ibrahim Sangare has managed just one start - despite signing a new three-year contract in the summer - while Callum Hudson-Odoi has had his playing time limited and Ola Aina has lost his place to new wing-back Daniel Munoz. Given the results, certainly at home, some will be forgiven for believing they deserve more minutes and the players are aware of the growing expectation and pressure. "We have a good manager and I think we are still getting his ideas," said defender Murillo following the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.
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