LONDON - Ange Postecoglou's tenure at Nottingham Forest ended abruptly after Chelsea scored three times in the second half to claim a 3-0 Premier League win at the City Ground on Saturday, extending Forest's winless run to eight matches.
Defender Josh Acheampong and winger Pedro Neto scored minutes apart after the break, sparking chants of "you don't know what you're doing" from frustrated home fans when Postecoglou immediately responded by bringing on Callum Hudson-Odoi. Captain Reece James sealed the result with a late volley.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen leaving the directors' box after 66 minutes, amid reports that Postecoglou's position was under serious scrutiny. Hours after the final whistle, the club confirmed his dismissal.
In an official statement, Nottingham Forest Football Club said: "Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect."
The decision followed another frustrating performance in which Forest failed to take its chances despite dominating the first half. Taiwo Awoniyi, making his first start since recovering from a severe abdominal injury that left him in a coma last season, spurned an early opportunity, while Morgan Gibbs-White also missed twice before the interval.
Chelsea, missing injured midfielders Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez, struggled early but came alive after manager Enzo Maresca made three halftime substitutions, including the introduction of Moises Caicedo.
Acheampong headed home Neto's cross four minutes after the restart, and Neto doubled the lead moments later with a curling free kick beyond Matz Sels. James added a third after capitalizing on a poor clearance from the Forest goalkeeper, while Chelsea's Malo Gusto was sent off late on for a second yellow card.
Forest continued to waste chances, as Neco Williams volleyed over from close range and substitute Igor Jesus hit both the post and bar, and that profligacy proved costly beyond the scoreline.
With six defeats and two draws from his first eight games since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo in September, Postecoglou's short-lived reign at the City Ground has come to an end.
