North East | Sunderland's impressive start to the season continues

Nottingham Forest 0 - 1 Sunderland

Sunderland produced another fantastic display to earn their first away victory of the season and continue their impressive start to the season.

Author | Lewis Whatley

Stadium | The City Ground

Omar Alderete's first-half goal gave Sunderland the victory as Ange Postecoglou's difficult start to life as Nottingham Forest head coach carries on.

A closer look at what happened

Wilson Isidor had the first real opportunity of the match. Within ten minutes, the visitors won possession inside Forest’s box, and Isidor’s attempted shot went just wide.

Forest struggled to create chances in the opening half hour, although Chris Wood met Neco Williams’ precise cross with a header that sailed over the bar.

A free-kick awarded to the visitors from 30 yards produced the breakthrough. Granit Xhaka delivered a measured ball to the back post, and Omar Alderete powered his header past Matz Sels to give them the lead.

The hosts looked to respond before half-time, with Dan Ndoye finding space in the box, but his well-placed effort was deflected wide.

Elliot Anderson curled a shot just over the bar as Forest pressed for an equaliser in the second half. Robin Roefs, who has impressed for Sunderland so far this season, made strong saves from Omari Hutchinson, Chris Wood, and a long-range effort from Anderson.

Despite their pressure, Forest were unable to find a goal, and Sunderland’s third win of the season lifted them to third in the table.

Sunderland’s superb start to the season continues

Their supporters lingered long after the final whistle to celebrate their first Premier League away win since 2017.

Over the past eight years, the club has dropped to League One but has rebuilt steadily and already looks capable of competing in the top flight just six games into their return.

They faced sustained pressure, particularly in a second half dominated by Forest, but produced an ideal away performance by holding on after taking the lead to secure three points.

Granit Xhaka continued to demonstrate his value with a commanding display in midfield, while Robin Roefs repeatedly frustrated the opposition with a series of impressive saves.

The Forest perspective

Forest fans had offered a mixed response to the appointment of Postecoglou as Nuno Espirito Santo's successor.

The Australian coach led Spurs to Europa League success in May, but their Premier League form last season was poor, finishing just one place above the relegation zone.

A quirk of the fixture list meant that Postecoglou’s first four games at Forest were all away. While he did not win any of them, the run included a defeat at last season’s runners-up Arsenal and a draw at Burnley, who had boasted an impressive defensive record on their way back to the Premier League.

The only clear disappointment came in the Carabao Cup defeat to Swansea, and Forest will be frustrated at failing to take anything from this match. In the second half, they created chance after chance but were repeatedly denied by Roefs’ inspired goalkeeping or could not get their shots on target.

Five games without a victory represent a poor start to any head coach’s tenure, but there have been encouraging signs that results may soon follow.