'I can finally breathe' – Gibbs-White relieved to end Forest's winless stretch

Morgan Gibbs-White expressed his relief at ending Nottingham Forest's 10-game winless run in all competitions against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday. 

In what was Sean Dyche's first game in charge since replacing Ange Postecoglou earlier this week, Gibbs-White led from the front in a 2-0 triumph at the City Ground. 

Gibbs-White opened the scoring with a 19th-minute penalty after Jan Bednarek handled the ball in the box, with Igor Jesus concluding the scoring with a second-half spot-kick. 

Indeed, Forest recorded their first victory in major European competition since November 1995 against Lyon in the UEFA Cup, ending a five-game winless run (D2 L3).

They also kept their first clean sheet in 21 matches across all competitions, with this their first shutout since a 1-0 success over Manchester United in April in the Premier League.

But most importantly, it was their first victory since their opening-day league win over Brentford on August 17, ending a turbulent period both on and off the pitch. 

"I can finally breathe tonight," Gibbs-White told TNT Sports.

"It has been a difficult couple of months with all the changes and the bad performances, so it was good to get our first win in eight or nine games.

"We are delighted to get the three points and I want to thank the fans for sticking by us.

"The gaffer said when he came in last season we had a real identity, and he wants to build on top of that. I am just delighted that the boys got the three points and the win.

"You can feel the morale. It feels a lot more positive, and it needs to stay like that. That's credit to the manager. He has instilled that in us, and we have to keep up that mentality."

Forest also scored two penalties in a match across all competitions (excluding shootouts) for the first time since their victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup in January 2018.

And that contributed to their expected goals (xG) total of 2.04 from their eight shots, while Porto registered a tally of 0.56 from their five attempts at Matz Sels' net. 

Of managers to take charge of their first game with the Tricky Trees at the City Ground, Dyche became the first Forest boss since Philippe Montanier against Burton Albion in 2016 to start with a victory. 

However, the former Everton boss was not willing to get carried away by his perfect start, suggesting that there was still plenty of work to be done to ensure that this winning feeling remains around the squad. 

"Marvellous. It meant a lot. The players have been through a lot and the fans have but just to give something back to them," Dyche said.

"We have been with them for two days and they have applied that very quickly. It is a start. There is a lot more to come but it is a start. A good start.

"I said to the lads it is a start and there is a whole lot more work to go. Now we need to keep building and keep working.

"We can't think that's all the questions answered. It is a journey and that is a good start."

Dyche's first Premier League assignment comes this Sunday, with Forest making the trip to the south coast to take on high-flying Bournemouth.