Ange Postecoglou prepared to 'struggle' and 'fight' at Nottingham Forest after defeat at Newcastle extends winless run

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Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou insisted he is prepared for the "struggle and fight" to turn things around after his side were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United. The defeat on Tyneside extended the Australian's winless start at Forest to seven games, with his side picking up just one point in the Premier League since he took over. Forest head into the international break in 17th place.

'Nothing surprises me' - Postecoglou responds to Forest boos after latest defeat

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ange Postecoglou has insisted he "loves a challenge" and is prepared to "fight" after Nottingham Forest's defeat at Newcastle United extended his winless start at the club.

Forest were beaten 2-0 at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon, meaning the Australian has now failed to win any of his seven matches in charge in all competitions since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo.

There is already an air of uncertainty around Postecoglou's future at the City Ground, less than a month into his tenure, with the former Tottenham Hotspur boss subjected to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" by his own fans on Thursday night and Newcastle supporters providing the same treatment on Sunday.

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But Postecoglou is prepared to "struggle" and "fight" to turn things around, saying defiantly that he has "fought for things all my life".

"I knew it was a big challenge walking in," he told BBC Match of the Day. "There is nothing wrong with that.

"I don't get why people think it is a burden, but I love a challenge. The alternative is sitting at home watching the game, and I don't want to do that."

'Sacked in the morning’ – Forest fans rage at Postecoglou after Midtjylland goal

Video credit: TNT Sports

With the domestic action taking a break for a round of international games, the Forest boss added: "We just have to get the results now, and we have two weeks to get it right. If people want to assess me three-and-a-half weeks in, there is nothing I can say that will change that.

"What I have seen and felt in this period is that we are heading in the direction I want us to. The results will come.

"In the meantime, it is a struggle and a fight, and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't want things handed on a plate; we have to fight for it. I have fought for things all my life."

The defeat at Newcastle, which came after second-half goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade, means Forest are heading into the international break in 17th place in the Premier League, just a point above the drop zone.

After a victory over Brentford on the opening weekend, they have picked up just two points from their following six league games.

Postecoglou has avoided defeat in just one of his four league games, registering a point away at Burnley.

Forest had defended resolutely up until Guimaraes' opener, and Postecoglou saw reasons for optimism in the way his side contained the hosts for the first hour of the match, despite a lack of cutting edge going forward.

He said: "It is always a difficult game to navigate up here with the atmosphere and the stadium. I thought for the most part we handled it pretty well.

"We nullified their main threats for the most part. We were always dangerous going the other way. We had some big moments we didn't capitalise on, and when you don't, the game gets away from you.

"The chances we did create, I felt we could have executed them better. They created some chances towards the end when they opened up. It is the little moments in games that we are not capitalising on that is costing us."

Forest return to action after the internatioal break at home to Chelsea on October 18, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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