Sean Dyche’s first Premier League game in charge of Nottingham Forest ended in disappointment, as Bournemouth cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win at the Vitality Stadium to move up to second in the table.
Forest, buoyed by their midweek Europa League win over Porto, were outplayed throughout.
Bournemouth’s opener came in bizarre fashion when Marcus Tavernier’s corner sailed over goalkeeper Matz Sels and straight into the net — though Forest protested that the corner should never have been awarded.
The hosts doubled their lead through 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi, who unleashed a stunning 30-yard strike into the bottom corner for his fourth goal in three league games.
Forest improved slightly after the break but rarely threatened.
Their best chance came late on when Morgan Gibbs-White forced a fine one-handed save from Djordje Petrovic.
The result leaves Dyche’s side in the relegation zone with just one win all season, while Bournemouth close the gap on leaders Arsenal to four points.
Dyche Faces Tough Challenge AheadDyche’s arrival brought optimism following Ange Postecoglou’s troubled tenure, but this match highlighted the scale of the task before him.
Forest were second best in every department during the first half, registering only one shot on target and struggling to cope with Bournemouth’s pressing and pace.
While Dyche’s halftime substitutions injected some urgency, Forest lacked creativity and composure in attack.
Sels also misjudged Tavernier’s corner for the opener, compounding their defensive woes.
With in-form Manchester United up next, Dyche has little time to steady the ship.
Kroupi Continues to ImpressAndoni Iraola’s Bournemouth continue to impress, and their rise to second place feels well-earned rather than surprising.
The Cherries dominated early, with Kroupi once again proving decisive — his thunderous strike making him the first Frenchman since Jean-Philippe Mateta in 2024 to score in three straight Premier League games.
Even after easing off in the second half, Bournemouth remained in control and could have added a third through a slick move involving Ryan Christie and David Brooks.
With the team thriving and Iraola’s tactical setup clicking seamlessly, Bournemouth’s owners will be keen to secure his long-term future — especially as interest from Europe’s top clubs continues to grow.
