Nottingham Forest's Glasner: Four Points from Relegation Zone

Glasner admits Forest deserve more but backs 'process'

Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner believes his side deserve more than their current relegation-zone position following three straight Premier League defeats. The Reds visit Ipswich Town on Friday desperate for a first league win, and Glasner insists the squad must stick together and stay positive through a difficult moment.

Next fixture: Ipswich Town (away) – Friday evening
Current position: Premier League relegation zone after three straight defeats
Home goals this season: None in the league at the City Ground
Conversion rate: 4.17% – lowest in the division
Manager: Oliver Glasner, appointed in the summer after leaving Crystal Palace
Key stat: Five goals scored, -6.20 xG (worst in the league)

What was said

"It feels unfair but I don't want to be complaining and feeling as victims."
— Oliver Glasner, on Forest's current situation

"We have a good manager and I think we are still getting his ideas. We changed everything in our system this season. It is difficult but after three or four months we keep improving and I think we are close to reaching our best. Now we are building our confidence, I think. We have a very good team, experienced players as well. Now we keep going because we know how tough the Premier League is."
— Murillo, defender, after 1-0 defeat to Arsenal

"Every team in the Premier League has the quality to come back into a game to score a goal. When you play the champions, you don't have seven, eight or nine moments like we had at Palace. You have two or three or four, and if you don't take it, you have always the chance to lose the game."
— Oliver Glasner, on missed chances

"We are the only ones who can change it. I told the players this is a tough moment and in tough moments in life there's just one way to go through it, you need your family, you need your friends and you need to stick together and stay positive. I'm very convinced that we will do this because I know the players and all the character of the players then we will get these scores, we will get the results."
— Oliver Glasner, on the team's mentality

Glasner's words paint a picture of a manager confident in his methods despite external pressure. The Austrian has been praised internally for his personality and coaching, and there is confidence that progress is being made behind the scenes. But the stark reality is that Forest have scored just five league goals all season and have the worst expected goals differential in the division. The players, as Murillo admits, are still adapting to a new system, and results have not yet followed. The coming weeks will test whether the belief is justified.

The numbers

Home league goals this season: 0 at the City Ground
Home league goals in 2026: 8 – of which 4 came against Burnley in April
Home league record since November: 2 wins from 17 games
Goal drought at home: 8 hours and 26 minutes without scoring
Shots in Premier League this season: 120 – third-highest behind Manchester United (138) and Brighton (125)
Shots on target: 25
Conversion rate: 4.17% – lowest in the division (Spurs 6.06% after Monday's win over Coventry)
Expected goals differential: -6.20 – worst in the league
Goals scored: 5
Shots against Arsenal: 14 (2 on target)

Analysis: Why Forest's problem is finishing, not creating

The statistics paint a clear picture: Nottingham Forest are not struggling to create chances, they are struggling to convert them. With 120 shots – third-most in the Premier League – and a shot count of 14 against Arsenal, the attacking structure is working. The issue is the final touch. £50m summer signing Rory Delap has been praised by Glasner but missed a close-range opportunity against Crystal Palace that was saved by Walter Benitez, and was denied by Ezri Konsa's fine block in injury time against Arsenal. Those moments define seasons.

Tactically, Glasner has settled on a preferred line-up with Neco Williams, Matz Sels, Dan Ndoye, Murillo and James McAtee starting every league game. Morgan Gibbs-White would have done so on Sunday but for a muscle injury. The consistency of selection is starting to show, but the lack of goals from midfield and wide areas is a concern. Ryan Yates, the club captain, is yet to play a minute, while Ibrahim Sangare has managed just one start despite signing a new three-year contract in the summer. Callum Hudson-Odoi has had limited playing time, and Ola Aina has lost his place to new wing-back Daniel Munoz.

Glasner's track record at Crystal Palace offers hope. He won just one of his opening six games after replacing Roy Hodgson in February 2024, and then did not win any of his first eight games in his first full season. That campaign ended with Palace beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final to end a 119-year wait for a major trophy. The Austrian has spoken to owner Evangelos Marinakis about previous slow starts and is impatient to repeat that success. He is not a magician, he admits, but the belief remains that he can turn things around.

Talking points

Should Glasner stick with the same starting XI or bring in Ryan Yates and Ibrahim Sangare to add steel and fresh legs?
Is £50m striker Rory Delap the answer to Forest's goalscoring woes, or do they need a different profile up front?
Given the club's history of short managerial reigns, how much patience does Glasner realistically have?
Can Forest's home form improve against Ipswich, or is the City Ground becoming a psychological barrier?

What happens next

Nottingham Forest travel to Ipswich Town on Friday evening knowing a win could lift them out of the relegation zone. Glasner will hope his side can rediscover their finishing touch and ease the growing pressure. With the owner's ambition clear and the manager's belief unwavering, the next few fixtures will be crucial in determining whether Forest's season turns around or the questions grow louder.