Sean Dyche on Thursday achieved in his first game with Nottingham Forest what predecessor Ange Postecoglou could not in eight matches in charge: Win.
Under its new coach, Nottingham Forest presented a concentrated display resulting in a 2-0 victory over Porto in the UEFA Europa League.
It was the first victory for Nottingham in the competition and only the second overall this season, while Porto were defeated for the first time this season.
Photo: Reuters
Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the penalty spot in the 19th minute at the City Ground in West Bridgford, England. Igor Jesus doubled the advantage from another penalty in the 77th minute.
Former Burnley and Everton manager Dyche replaced Postecoglou, who was fired in ruthless fashion on Saturday about 20 minutes after Forest’s 3-0 home loss to Chelsea that left the team in the Premier League relegation zone.
Postecoglou had been in the job for only 39 days and did not win any of his eight matches in charge.
Czech team Viktoria Plzen scored twice through Prince Kwabena Adu and Cheick Souare within two minutes in the first half to stun AS Roma 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Paulo Dybala reduced the deficit from the spot early in the second half.
Elsewhere, Braga, Olympique Lyonnais and Midtjylland maintained their 100 percent records.
Kerem Akturkoglu converted from the penalty spot for Fenerbahce SK in a 1-0 win over VfB Stuttgart.
Early goals three minutes apart from Jens Odgaard and Thijs Dallinga put Bologna 1909 en route to a 2-1 victory over FCSB in Bucharest.
OSC Lille was handed a 4-3 home defeat by 10-man PAOK.
The kick-off of Feyenoord’s home game with Panathinaikos was twice changed because of a storm forecast before the hosts prevailed 3-1.
Mats Deijl’s second-half goal for European newcomers Go Ahead Eagles completed a 2-1 comeback victory over Aston Villa 2-1.
It was the first defeat for the Premier League club after two wins in Europe’s second-tier competition. The Netherlands-based team recorded their second victory.
Deijl controlled the ball with his chest before firing a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on the hour mark in the Dutch city of Deventer.
Evann Guessand struck early from inside the penalty area off Jadon Sancho’s cross to put Villa ahead in the fourth minute. It was the Ivory Coast forward’s first goal for his new club.
Mathis Suray equalized three minutes before interval with a lob — scoring the historic first goal in the Europa League for the hosts.
Villa’s Emi Buendia wasted a chance to equalize from the spot 11 minutes before the end, sending the penalty over the crossbar.
The loss ended Villa’s five-game winning streak in all competitions.
Fran Navarro and substitute Mario Dorgeles scored one each for Braga to beat Red Star Belgrade 2-0 for the third win from three for the Portuguese team.
Corentin Tolisso netted from close range in the third minute and substitute Afonso Moreira scored in the final minute in Lyon’s 2-0 home win over Basel 1893.
Danish club Midtjylland took home three points from neutral site Backa Topola, Serbia, with a 3-0 win over Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv on two goals from Franculino Dju and another one from Philip Billing.
Emil Kornvig scored five minutes before the break as Norway’s Brann topped struggling Rangers 3-0.
Jacob Sorensen headed in the second in the 55th minute as the Scottish team did not look capable of finding an answer to the aggressive play of the hosts. Noah Holm finished them off 11 minutes from time.
Rangers hired former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl as their new coach on Monday to replace the fired Russell Martin.
Rangers are without a point in Europe. It was the second victory for Brann.
Celtic came from a goal down to edge 10-man Sturm Graz 2-1. Liam Scales canceled out the opening goal by Tomi Horvat before Benjamin Nygren headed in the winner at Celtic Park. Minutes after the goal, Graz midfielder Tochi Chukwuani received a red card.
Elsewhere, RB Salzburg lost to Ferencvaros 3-2, Genk and Real Betis Balompie played out a 0-0 draw, RC Celta de Vigo beat OGC Nice 2-1, Malmo and GNK Dinamo Zagreb drew 1-1, Young Boys downed Ludogorets 3-2 and SC Freiburg defeated Utrecht 2-0.
In the third-tier UEFA Conference League, Crystal Palace were stunned 1-0 by AEK Larnaca in London.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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