Sean Dyche: Nottingham Forest boss under significant pressure after Wolves draw

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche's position is under major scrutiny following the goalless draw at home to Wolves.

BBC Sport reported on Friday night that Dyche was under increasing pressure at the City Ground following the team's meek performance in the 3-1 loss at Leeds.

Wednesday's goalless draw against bottom club Wolves has only served to intensify the internal scrutiny on Dyche's job.

Sections of the fanbase are starting to turn, a factor characterised by the boos from home supporters following the Wolves shutout.

Similarly, there is a feeling within the Forest hierarchy that Dyche's appointment has not had the impact they had hoped.

"The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt," Dyche said.

"If anyone chooses to change in football now, that's their decision. We've all seen it."

Dyche was appointed Forest manager on 21 October but the club remain in relegation danger, just three points separating them from West Ham who occupy the final spot in the bottom three.

Sources are indicating to BBC Sport that Dyche is now under significant pressure amid concerns over the team's performance.

Forest do not have a fixture until they face Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off on Thursday, 19 February.

That leaves Forest with ample time to identify and appoint a new head coach should they decide to part with the 54-year-old.

Should Dyche depart and a permanent replacement is appointed, it would mark the first time a Premier League team has had four permanent managers in a season.

Forest started the campaign with Nuno Espirito Santo in charge before he was sacked at the start of September and replaced by Ange Postecoglou.

Dyche is all too aware how quickly managers are under pressure in the Premier League.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank was sacked after eight months in charge of Spurs, and Dyche was asked for his thoughts on that before the Wolves game.

"Unfortunately, it is the way it is," Dyche said.

"The demands are high. Social media is playing its part now. There seems a lot of anger and resentment - we have got to live to roll with it. That's what us managers have got to do."

Just a couple of hours later Dyche would find his position under similar scrutiny after the goalless draw in which Forest had an incredible 35 attempts on goal without scoring.

That is the most by a team without finding the net in a Premier League match since Manchester United had 38 in their 0-0 draw with Burnley in October 2016.

Forest somehow failed to make the most of an incredible six-on-one attack, which ended with new signing Lorenzo Lucca somehow firing over from 12 yards, a finish that left owner Evangelos Marinakis looking furious in the stands.

The fans shared that frustration as well and boos greeted the full-time whistle, leaving Dyche well aware that this was a game Forest had to win.

"People can demand change, and then it's always whether they change or not," added Dyche.

"If the owner wants to make a change then that's up to him, and that's the way football is now, that's just the reality of it.

"I understand the noise here has changed significantly since the last few games."

Dyche undoubtedly arrived at Forest in difficult circumstances, but he appeared to steady the ship after a poor run of results under Postecoglou, winning seven of his first 12 games.

If results were taken from when Dyche took over, Forest would be mid-table, six points above third-from-bottom Tottenham.

"That's the only thing I'm frustrated about as it's not a terrible run," added Dyche.

"But that's still the modern way football is. Demand is high. That's changed enormously in the last probably two years.

"Demand is getting higher and higher and higher and higher. Expectation immediately grows."

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer believes Dyche should be given more time.

"I think with his know-how and his experience in the Premier League, I would without a doubt stick with Sean Dyche," he said on BBC Match of the Day.

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy agreed.

"I think for this battle at the bottom you wouldn't want a better manager than him," he said.

"He's been there, done it, he stays calm. I think they'd be crazy to get rid of him but it doesn't mean it's not going to happen.

"The other thing as well I suppose for Marinakis is if it wasn't for him they wouldn't be in the Premier League and they wouldn't be in Europe so maybe he's got the right to do what he wants, but I don't think there's a manager you could bring in who is as capable as him in this fight."

Former Everton defender Phil Jagielka added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Sean Dyche came in to do a job and that job was to make sure they stayed out of the relegation zone. He's picked up a few points. It wasn't too dissimilar to the job he had to do at Everton.

"We know that this owner doesn't like watching his team underperform and he's not scared to make big decisions."

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