Ange-ball is working – to a point
These are still early days but Igor Jesus’s first goal in the Europa League draw with Real Betis was another tick in the box for so-called Ange-ball, a brisk team move culminating in the Brazil striker converting from close range. The first half was particularly encouraging from Ange Postecoglou’s perspective, Forest peppering the Betis goal, a series of cutting moves proof his methods are working. But Forest have squandered leads in three of their four matches under Postecoglou. Why are they struggling to get over the line? They toiled against Betis with Nikola Milenkovic cramping up approaching the final whistle, while Douglas Luiz, influential for both goals, was withdrawn at half-time owing to hamstring soreness. Worryingly, Forest again seemed to lose momentum after making substitutions. “We’ve got to manage games, see them out – we’ll be in a better position if we start doing that,” said Forest’s captain, Morgan Gibbs-White.
