The euphoria of Nottingham Forest’s Europa League triumph over Porto was short-lived, as Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth brought reality crashing back down to earth. The win over the Portuguese side had reminded the Reds of the joy and excitement that comes with winning games, a feeling that had been noticeably absent since the opening day of the campaign.

However, Sean Dyche knows that turning Forest’s form around won’t be a quick fix. The new manager faced the music on Sunday, acknowledging that his team still has a lot of work to do to reach their goals. “It’s about the basics,” Dyche said, highlighting the need for his team to tighten up at the back and show more energy and organization.

Soft Goals and Fitness Challenges

Forest’s struggles with set-pieces reared their head again on Sunday, with Bournemouth’s opening goal coming from a corner kick. The Reds’ goalkeeper, Matz Sels, looked out of sorts, and Dyche wasn’t impressed. “Dealing with set-pieces is one of the things we need to work on,” he said. The team’s fitness levels were also called into question, with Dyche admitting that his players weren’t physically at the level he wants them to be.

Attacking Woes

Forest’s attacking woes continued on Sunday, with the team mustering just seven touches in Bournemouth’s box. Dyche felt that “fuzzy thinking” played a part in his team’s lack of creativity, but also believes that a simple tweak could be key. “We need to get crosses in and hurt people with the physical side of it,” he said.

The Road Ahead

Dyche will have a chance to work on his team’s basics in the coming days, with no midweek fixture to contend with. The Reds host Manchester United on Saturday, a big week that could prove crucial in their bid to climb out of the relegation zone. Dyche knows that his team needs to step up and perform, and he’s confident that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve their goals. The question is, can they get back to winning ways?