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By JAMES SHARPE Published: 05: 47 AEST, 28 September 2025 | Updated: 05: 47 AEST, 28 September 2025 14 View comments Remember when newly-promoted teams were simply destined for life back in the Championship? Try telling Sunderland that. The Black Cats’ victory at Nottingham Forest, courtesy of Omar Alderete’s first-half header, meant they ended the day in the Champions League places. The last time they were in the top four more than five games into a season was March 2001 under Peter Reid when they finished seventh. For Ange Postecoglou, however, he becomes the first Forest manager to fail to win any of his first five games in charge since Harry Hallam in 1897. Daily Mail Sport's JAMES SHARPE was at The City Ground and he has picked out some key talking points from the clash.   Sunderland secured an impressive 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Saturday night The result means Forest are yet to win any of Ange Postecoglou's five games in charge SLOPPY SIDE OF ANGE Postecoglou had travelled 3, 886 miles as Nottingham Forest boss, and taken charge of matches in three different countries before finally leading his team out at the City Ground. The more than 3, 000 Forest fans who travelled to Seville for the club’s first European fixture in nearly three decades were treated, especially in the first half of their Europa League draw against Real Betis, to some of the thrilling, attacking football you do often see from a Postecoglou side. Those packed inside the City Ground on Saturday saw more than a few glimpses of the other side of Big Ange. The one where opponents can split the team in two with a single pass through the middle and the one that can’t defend set-pieces. Postecoglou’s Tottenham was one of the worst in the Premier League for conceding from set-plays and for Sunderland’s opener, they appeared to have picked up the same habit as a simple free-kick to the back post by former Arsenal scuffler Granit Xhaka found Omar Alderete unmarked to nod past Matz Sels. Postecoglou teams tend to have a poor record defending set pieces and Forest conceded from one here REF UNDER SPOTLIGHT The debate over how Sunderland’s winner came about, however, raged long after the Forest fans had trudged home along the banks of the River Trent. Referee Tony Harrington booked Nicolas Dominguez for diving after a collision with Trai Hume just outside the Forest midfielder’s area. The two clashed feet but Dominguez made a meal of it. Six of one, a free-kick in a dangerous position of the other. ‘There was a whole range of decisions from the officials from awarding it [the free-kick] and some holding in the box, ’ said Postecoglou. ‘I thought it was just play on, but that’s the referee’s decision. Irrespective, even if the referee has made a howler, we can still deal with the free kick better. ’ Omar Alderete scored the winner but there were questions over whether Sunderland should have had the free kick that led to the goal GIBBS-WHITE CAN’T MAKE IT COUNT Postecoglou blamed the need to rotate his squad around European fixtures rather than his poor form for why he left Morgan Gibbs-White on the bench yet, without him and Callum Hudson-Odoi, Forest struggled to break Sunderland down. Forest had more of the ball than they ever did under Nuno Espirito Santo but did little with it until Postecoglou brought his attacking charges on in the second half. They moved the ball far quicker with Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi. Gibbs-White had an attempt deflected wide for a corner then attempted an overhead kick from Hudson-Odoi’s delivery. Gibbs-White was again at the heart of it to feed Omari Hutchinson whose cross was headed wide by Chris Wood and sent Postecoglou throwing himself to the turf. Morgan Gibbs-White was rested from the start but Forest's attack struggled without him ROEFS SAVES THE DAY Sunderland hung on for dear life. They had heroes, as the saying goes, all over the pitch. Birthday boy Xhaka continues to be a colossus in the middle of the pitch and brings the gnarly know-how they will need if they are to survive. But it was goalkeeper Robin Roefs who made sure they finished the day in the top four. The 22-year-old was the subject of ridicule last week when he let Matty Cash’s swerving long-range effort through him against Aston Villa but as 22 shots rained down on his goal and all six that found their way on target he either caught or punched or parried or clutched. One from Hutchinson inside the box, another from an Elliot Anderson long-ranger, the best to deny Wood from close-range. Whatever Forest threw at him, nothing got past. 'He has great confidence but at the same time he wants to improve his game but is really demanding on himself, ' said Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris. FOREST (4-2-3-1): Sels 6. 5; Williams 6. 5, Milenkovic 6, Morato 6. 5, Zinchenko 6; Dominguez 5 (Gibbs-White 46, 7), Anderson 7; Bakwa 6. 5 (Hutchinson 72, 7), Mc Atee 6 (Hudson-Odoi 60, 7), Ndoye 6 (Jesus 60, 6. 5); Wood 5. 5 (Kalimuendo 90) Scorers: None Booked: Milenkovic, Dominguez, Williams, Anderson Manager: Ange Postecoglou 6 SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): ROEFS 9; Hume 6. 5, Mukiele 7, Alderete 8; Masuaku 7 (Geertruida, 59, 6); Xhaka 8. 5, Sadiki 7; Talbi 6. 5 (Adingra 85), Rigg 6. 5 (Traore 59, 6. 5), Le Fee 6. 5 (Ballard 75); Isidor 6. 5 (Brobbey 85) Scorers: Alderete 38 Booked: Sadiki, Masuaku Manager: Regis Le Bris 7. 5 Referee: Tony Harrington 5 Att: 30, 226

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