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16 September, 2021

Hughton sacked after worst start

On this day in 2021 Forest sack Chris Hughton after their worst start in 108 years.

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Chris Hughton, former Forest manager.
Chris Hughton, former Forest manager. Image: James Boyes / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest dismissed Chris Hughton after one of the bleakest starts to a league season in the club’s modern history.

Forest were bottom of the Championship with one point from seven matches, having lost six of their opening league games. Hughton’s final match was a 2-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough at the City Ground, a result that left the club winless and under heavy pressure.

Chris Hughton, former Forest manager.
Chris Hughton, former Forest manager. Image: James Boyes / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The decision reflected the severity of the start rather than one result in isolation. Forest had made their worst start to a season in 108 years, and the club moved quickly after the Middlesbrough defeat.

Steven Reid took interim charge before Steve Cooper was appointed later in September. The turnaround that followed made the timing even more striking: within the same season, Forest climbed from the bottom of the table to promotion through the play-offs.

Sources

BBC Sport; Sky Sports; The Guardian

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Records and statistics
2021
Hughton sacked after worst start

Nottingham Forest dismissed Chris Hughton after one of the bleakest starts to a league season in the club’s modern history. Forest were bottom of…

Eras and timeline markers