Nottingham Forest Suffer 3-2 Loss to FC Midtjylland at City Ground

Nottingham Forest’s long-awaited return to European competition at the City Ground was nothing short of heartache. In front of a crowd of 29,323, the hosts were edged out 3–2 by FC Midtjylland in a pulsating Europa League contest that left more questions than answers for manager Ange Postecoglou, whose tenure is already under intense scrutiny.

From the opening whistle, it was clear Midtjylland had come to impose. They struck first in the 18th minute after a set-piece attack unsettled Forest’s marking. Ousmane Diao, lurking at the far post, diverted the ball home to give the visitors the lead.

Forest’s response was immediate. Just four minutes later, Dan Ndoye equalised after a slick build-up, finishing off a move that momentarily sparked hope among the home supporters. But Midtjylland would not be deterred. In the 24th minute, Mads Bech Sørensen restored their lead when Forest again struggled to clear their lines from a corner, and Sørensen stabbed in from close range.

Those early set-piece lapses would come back to haunt Forest. Shortly before half-time the hosts were left chasing as they shipped yet another dangerous delivery into the box—Murillo was forced off injured amid the scramble—leaving Postecoglou and his backline visibly unsettled.

The second half saw Forest press hard, dominating possession at over 61 percent and pushing Midtjylland deeper into their own half. Chances came through intelligent runs, crosses, and repeated pressure on the flanks.

Igor Jesus, Gibbs-White, and Ndoye combined with energy and pace, probing for gaps in the Danish defence. But Midtjylland held firm. Their defence repelled wave after wave of threat, and their goalkeeper made a number of critical saves that kept them in it.

Against the run of play in the 88th minute, the Danes struck again. On a counter, Valdemar Byskov was fed through on goal and slotted home masterfully to put the visitors 3–1 up. The blow was brutal — Forest had poured forward for so long, only to be punished at the other end.

The home crowd, already frustrated by missed opportunities and defensive uncertainty, grew restless. In stoppage time, Forest earned a penalty when Anderson went down in the box.

Chris Wood stepped up and converted with composure, firing into the net to make it 3-2 in the 93rd minute. But by then, time had run out. The final whistle sounded, and the City Ground fell into stunned silence.

For Forest, the narrative of the night was one of squandered dominance and recurring frailties. Though they outshot Midtjylland 22 to 8, the finishing touch was never sharp enough, and their defensive errors proved decisive.

Postecoglou will reflect bitterly on how long spells of control failed to translate into goals, and how two set-piece breakdowns and a sucker punch counter sealed their downfall.

Off the pitch, the atmosphere was raw. Frustration spilled into boos and chants. Some sections of the crowd openly called for Postecoglou’s dismissal, even singing “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”

The manager admitted he heard the unrest afterwards but refused to be rattled. “Nothing surprises me anymore in football,” he said. “The fans are disappointed, they’re entitled to have an opinion on it, and I heard them.” He insisted that his belief in the squad’s path remains intact, even if the mood around the club is turning sour.

The result leaves Forest with just one point from their first two Europa League matches, a position that puts serious pressure on their European hopes.