Ange Postecoglou off the mark as Nottingham Forest boss with draw at Burnley
By Eleanor Crooks, PA Sport Correspondent
Ange Postecoglou secured his first Premier League point as Nottingham Forest manager in a 1-1 draw at Burnley.
After defeats by Arsenal last weekend and Swansea in the Carabao Cup, this game offered a chance for a first victory, but Jaidon Anthony cancelled out Neco Williams’ second-minute opener.
Relentless rain made conditions tricky for both teams and Burnley were grateful to goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for a string of fine saves.
Postecoglou gave first Premier League starts to three summer recruits in Douglas Luiz, Dilane Bakwa and Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Burnley’s only change from last weekend’s agonising loss to Liverpool was Benfica loanee Florentino making his full debut in place of the suspended Lesley Ugochukwu.
Luiz made his mark straight away, with his corner causing problems for the Burnley defence and falling for Williams, whose powerful shot from 15 yards took a deflection off Maxime Esteve and flew into the top corner.
Burnley’s first effort was a speculative one from wide on the left by Quilindschy Hartman following a fine ball from Florentino, but the Dutchman struck it well and Matz Sels needed to produce a flying save to keep it out.
Zinchenko then tested Dubravka from range, but the Ukrainian defender was left with head in hands at the other end after he was unable to prevent Anthony equalising in the 20th minute.
Goals do not come any scrappier, with a deep cross from Hartman headed down by Loum Tchaouna and mis-controlled by Lyle Foster into the path of Anthony, whose scuffed shot lacked power, but Zinchenko got his feet in a tangle and could only help the ball into the net.
While that would have been hugely frustrating for Postecoglou, some of the quick passing on the edge of the area from Forest was impressive and resulted in two good chances, first Dubravka diving to his right to keep out Bakwa’s curling effort and then Chris Wood scuffing his shot straight at the Burnley keeper.
It was the home side who finished the first half the stronger, though, and Tchaouna was very unfortunate to see his excellent free-kick from just outside the box crash off the crossbar.
Burnley then had a glorious chance to go ahead 20 seconds into the second half when Anthony was played through, but Sels denied the lively forward.
It was Anthony again who tried his luck in the 58th minute, this time from long range and without unduly troubling Sels, but Scott Parker would have been the happier of the two managers, with Forest unable to string anything together in attack.
Former Burnley striker Wood was given a good reception by the home fans when he was substituted with 15 minutes remaining and his replacement Igor Jesus made an immediate impact with a header that drew another excellent save from Dubravka.
Forest now looked a threat again but they could not beat Dubravka, the Slovakian plunging to his right to keep out a first-time volley from Williams before substitute Arnaud Kalimuendo had a shot blocked.
