⚠️ Nottingham Forest’s Set-Piece Collapse Under Ange Postecoglou: A Growing Crisis That Can’t Be Ignored
Nottingham Forest’s narrow 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland was disappointing for several reasons. It was supposed to mark a new chapter under Ange Postecoglou, a chance to kickstart what has been a tough beginning to life in charge of the Tricky Trees. Instead, it turned into a glaring reminder of a weakness that now threatens to define the Australian’s early tenure: his teams cannot defend set pieces.
The game was marred by controversy, particularly the decision to award the free kick that led to Sunderland’s winner. Forest’s Neco Williams could be seen clearly protesting the call, bewildered that the referee had pointed to a foul in the first place. But while the officiating might be debated, there’s no question about what happened next — Sunderland executed the set piece brilliantly, while Forest’s defending was flat-footed, disorganized, and ultimately, costly.
It was just one goal, but it opened the door to a much deeper and more alarming trend that has followed Postecoglou from his previous job at Tottenham and now seems to be repeating itself in the East Midlands.
📊 A Damning Statistic: Postecoglou’s Set-Piece Record
Since the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season, teams managed by Ange Postecoglou have conceded 34 goals from set pieces in league matches. That is more than any other manager during the same timeframe.
To put that into perspective, the next worst on the list is former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, whose sides conceded 26 goals from set plays — still a significant number, but eight fewer than Postecoglou’s.
This is not just a small tactical oversight. This is a systemic failure that spans multiple teams and competitions. Whether at Spurs or Forest, Postecoglou’s sides have shown consistent vulnerability when defending corners, free kicks, and second balls.
And the numbers don’t lie: 34 goals conceded from set pieces in just over a season’s worth of games is not just high — it’s catastrophic, especially in a league where margins are razor-thin.
📉 What’s Changed at Forest?
The truly worrying part for Forest fans is that this wasn’t a problem before.
In the 2023/24 season — under both Steve Cooper and later Nuno Espírito Santo — Nottingham Forest were one of the Premier League’s best teams at defending set pieces. They conceded just nine goals from set plays — the sixth best record in the division.
But it wasn’t just about defending. Forest also thrived on the attacking side of set pieces. They scored 17 goals from dead-ball situations, more than any other team in the league. It was arguably their most potent weapon.
Fast-forward to now, and that entire advantage seems to have evaporated. A strength has become a weakness, and a consistent source of goals has turned into a liability.
This dramatic swing can’t simply be pinned on a few individual errors or personnel changes — it points directly to the influence of the manager.
🧠 Set Pieces: Football’s Quiet Battleground
In modern football, the importance of set pieces has skyrocketed. Many clubs now employ dedicated set-piece coaches, analysts, and rehearsed routines in both attack and defence.
Top managers — from Mikel Arteta at Arsenal to Thomas Frank at Brentford — understand that well-executed set pieces can be worth 10+ goals a season at either end of the pitch. In a league as competitive as the Premier League, that could be the difference between relegation and survival, or a mid-table finish and a European spot.
Postecoglou’s refusal — or inability — to shore up this area of his game is becoming a glaring blind spot. His commitment to free-flowing, attacking football is admirable, but it must be balanced with attention to detail, especially in a department that directly contributes to wins and losses.
🛠️ What Needs to Happen Next?
It’s clear that something has to change — and fast — if Forest are to avoid being punished repeatedly by opponents who now see them as a soft target at set pieces.
Here are some immediate steps Postecoglou should consider:
- Hire a Specialist Set-Piece Coach: Many clubs have done this with great success. It’s no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity.
- Review and Restructure Defensive Shape: Whether it’s zonal or man-marking, the current setup isn’t working. Forest need a consistent structure with clear accountability for each player.
- Rebuild Confidence in Training: The team needs to rehearse set-piece defending with the same intensity as open-play drills. Decision-making, second-ball anticipation, and physicality all need improving.
- Study the Opposition Closely: Forest must start preparing in more detail for opponents’ set-piece routines, something they were known to do last season.
🚨 Why This Is More Than Just a “Blip”
Football is full of small patterns that, when ignored, turn into bigger crises. Postecoglou’s record with set-piece defending is now more than just a pattern — it’s a clear trend that threatens the stability of any team he manages.
For Nottingham Forest, it’s not too late to turn things around. The core of the squad is largely the same as last season — a team that proved it could both defend and score from set pieces. But without addressing the structural flaws that have emerged since Postecoglou took charge, they risk losing one of their most effective tools.
The loss to Sunderland, while painful, should act as a wake-up call. Forest cannot afford to let set pieces become their Achilles’ heel for the rest of the season.
📌 Final Word
Ange Postecoglou is a manager with clear tactical ideas and a strong footballing philosophy. But philosophies mean little when your side is hemorrhaging goals from the most controllable phase of play in football.
Nottingham Forest used to be a nightmare for opponents when it came to set pieces — tough to break down, and deadly when attacking. Under Postecoglou, that identity is vanishing.
If Forest want to climb the table and build something sustainable under their new boss, the fix must begin at the dead ball. Because in the Premier League, you don’t get many second chances — especially when you’re giving goals away for free.