Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus both scored from the spot to hand Nottingham Forest their first European victory in three decades, as Sean Dyche began his reign with a vital 2-0 triumph over FC Porto on Thursday night.
The win, Forest’s first in continental competition since November 1995, also marked the end of a frustrating 10-match winless run in all competitions and brought Porto’s unbeaten start to the season to an abrupt halt.
It was a significant result for the two-time European champions, who have already seen three different managers take charge during this Europa League campaign.
After Nuno Espirito Santo guided them to qualification and Ange Postecoglou led their opening two fixtures, Dyche’s first game in charge delivered an immediate spark.
Forest showed grit and flair at the City Ground, with captain Gibbs-White opening the scoring from the penalty spot after Jan Bednarek was penalised for handball midway through the first half.
The midfielder confidently sent goalkeeper Diogo Costa the wrong way, a moment that drew applause from club owner Evangelos Marinakis watching from the stands.
The hosts’ aggression and energy kept Porto on the back foot, with Callum Hudson-Odoi testing Costa early and Matz Sels denying a long-range strike from Alan Varela to preserve Forest’s lead heading into halftime.
Porto came out stronger after the break and thought they had levelled through Bednarek, only for VAR to intervene and rule out the goal for offside in the buildup.
That reprieve reignited Forest’s momentum, and another VAR review later handed them a second penalty, this time for a foul on substitute Nicolò Savona.
Igor Jesus, who had scored twice in their 2-2 draw with Real Betis earlier in the campaign, stepped up to smash home the spot-kick in the 77th minute, sealing the win.
Dyche’s men defended resolutely in the closing stages, keeping the Portuguese champions at bay until the final whistle.
The City Ground erupted in celebration, not only for a much-needed victory but for a long-awaited European night to remember.
