Sean Dyche was delighted with Nottingham Forest’s response to his arrival, securing a 2-0 Europa League victory over Porto on Thursday, but the new manager insisted there is still plenty of work ahead.

Dyche had only two days with the squad after replacing the sacked Ange Postecoglou on Tuesday, yet he achieved what his predecessor could not in 39 days — getting Forest winning again.

Forest had not tasted victory since the opening day of the Premier League in August under Nuno Espirito Santo, enduring a 10-game winless streak, including eight matches under Postecoglou.

“The players have been through a lot and the fans as well, so to give something back meant a lot,” Dyche told TNT Sports.
“We’ve been with them for two days and they’ve applied that very quickly. It’s a start — a good start. But there is a lot more to come.”

Unlike Postecoglou, who struggled with his footballing philosophy, Dyche is pragmatic, doing whatever it takes to secure results.

“I don’t want to be a purist; I want to play long and stretch teams,” he explained.
“That gives you more room to play in. We had a chance in the second half to stamp our authority, and it was nice to get the second goal to settle it.”

Dyche was also pleased to see Forest keep a clean sheet for the first time since April 1.
“To get a clean sheet and a win for the crowd and players, and give them a bit more belief, was great,” he said.
“The shape was good, and with the ball we managed to find balance. We’ll get fitter and sharper — it will take a little time. This is just a start; there’s a lot more work to do. It’s a journey, and this is a good first step.”

Forest now turn their attention back to the Premier League, visiting high-flying Bournemouth on Sunday. The Reds sit 18th with five points, while Bournemouth are third in the table.