Nottingham Forest's Europa League campaign took a turn for the worse as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to FC Midtjylland in the first leg of the round of 16. The match, played in treacherous conditions at the City Ground, saw the home side's profligacy punished by a late goal from substitute Guesung Cho. With 10 minutes to go, Cho capitalised on a lapse in concentration from Forest defender Ola Aina, heading in the winner for Midtjylland. This result marks a continuation of Forest's recent struggles, with the team now winless in five matches across all competitions. The sacking of Sean Dyche and the appointment of Vitor Pereira as head coach has not yielded the desired results, with Pereira overseeing four defeats in six games since taking charge. The statistics paint a grim picture of Forest's form, with 88 shots, an xG of 6.44, and 126 touches in the opposition box across their last four matches at the City Ground, resulting in just one goal. Opta stats further highlight Forest's poor conversion rate, with a mere 8.6% of their shots converted this season, the lowest ratio of any Premier League side. The match against Midtjylland was a stark contrast to Forest's recent form, with the team lacking the quality to find the breakthrough despite numerous opportunities. Midtjylland, on the other hand, were ruthless, scoring with only their second shot on target of the game, and their patience paid off, making them just the fourth side this century to win twice at the City Ground in a single season. The Danes' winning goals have come late in games, with both of their goals in Europe this season scored after the 80th minute. The second leg in Denmark next week will be a daunting task for Forest, who will need to score at least two goals to progress to the quarter-finals. With their attention shifting to the Premier League, Forest's focus will now turn to their crucial match against Fulham on Sunday, as they fight for survival in the top-flight competition. The rain-soaked conditions at the City Ground seemed to play a role in Forest's struggles, with Pereira commenting on the weather's impact on the team's performance. Despite the setback, Forest's forward Omari Hutchinson remains optimistic, expressing belief in the team's ability to turn the tide in the second leg and emphasising the importance of their training on finishing.
