Sean Dyche Understands Nottingham Forest Fans’ Anger After Braga Defeat

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche has admitted he fully understands the frustration of supporters following his side’s disappointing 1-0 Europa League defeat away to Braga.

Forest’s hopes of securing automatic qualification for the knockout stages were dealt a significant blow on a dismal night in Portugal. A lacklustre display was compounded by a decisive moment just after the interval, when captain Ryan Yates turned the ball into his own net only 54 seconds after Morgan Gibbs-White had seen a penalty saved.

The frustration of the 2,000 travelling Forest supporters was evident throughout the match, with boos ringing out at half-time and during the second half. Their anger was again clear at the final whistle as Dyche’s players were jeered off the pitch.

Speaking after the game, Dyche acknowledged the supporters’ reaction and admitted he shared their disappointment.

“Of course they are frustrated, and I understand that,” Dyche said.
“They want to do well in this competition, and so do we.”

However, Dyche stressed that Forest are balancing European ambitions with the demands of the Premier League.

“We have two competitions to manage, and the bigger picture has to be the Premier League because of its importance,” he explained.
“That said, this is a fantastic competition that the club has waited a long time to be part of.”

The Forest boss was particularly disappointed by the lack of energy shown by his side, especially given their previous European performances.

“It is frustrating for me because we changed the team in earlier Europa League games and got one draw and three wins — and we probably should have won the drawn match as well,” he said.
“This game felt flat. The others had more energy and more spark.”

Dyche revealed he had expected more from his players, citing strong performances in training during the build-up.

“I was waiting for that group to really lay a marker down,” he added.
“They had been excellent in training all week and knew early on they were going to play. They were really up for it.”

Instead, Forest delivered what Dyche described as a slow and methodical performance that ultimately proved costly.

“It was one minute of madness,” he said.
“If we score the penalty, the whole game changes. But we didn’t, and that’s football.”

Dyche also acknowledged the broader expectations surrounding the club this season and urged patience as Forest continue their rebuild.

“There has been a lot of expectation, and I know that because I lived in the area even before becoming manager,” he said.
“Despite the changes in managers and players, the frustration is still there.”

He concluded by emphasising that progress will take time and requires a collective effort.

“We don’t have a magic solution,” Dyche said.
“We work with these players every day to build a strong unit. That unit is crucial, especially with the schedule we have. It’s not just about the starting XI in the Premier League — it’s about the entire squad.”