SK Sturm Graz v Nottingham Forest LIVE - Stalemate in Austria as Sean Dyche's Forest unable to make breakthrough, despite penalty gift

Europa League / League Phase

Merkur Arena / 06.11.2025

Sturm Graz

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20:00

ONE POINT GAINED OR TWO DROPPED FOR FOREST, AS DYCHE’S SIDE KEEP CLEAN SHEET BUT MISS A PENALTY

It was ‘a night of nearlies’ for Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest on the road in Europe. His injury ravaged successfully side shut out the Austrian champions Graz, but failed to take a gilt-edged first half chance that would surely have been enough to clinch the game.

Both teams could have claims to the lead from the opening 45 minutes, but it was Forest who could have made the stronger argument.

Several innovative moves saw the away side break through the home teams defences on multiple occasions. James McAtee first cane close on 10 minutes, cutting his shot just wide from a corner. Six minutes later a Ryan Yates header from another Neco Williams corner was headed off the line by Arjan Malic.

Graz were able to get the ball into the net on 27 minutes, when Forest goalkeeper John Victor spilled an Otar Kiteishvili shot into the path of Maurice Malone. Malone tapped it in but it was immediately chalked off for offside.

Morgan Gibbs-White should have put the visitors into the lead from the spot on 35 minutes, after A Neco Williams cross was judged to have been handled inside the box by Emanuel Aiwu. Gibbs-White let the pressure get to him, shooting low, but not far enough into the corner, and it wasn’t a difficult save for Graz ‘keeper Oliver Christensen. After a lively opening period the sides headed for the dressing rooms all square.

And that was how they spent the second half, with tired legs cramping up and producing few opportunities for either team. Forest enjoyed a few moments to excite the travelling fans, while Graz barely troubled the away defence.

Nicolas Dominguez almost snatched all three points for Forest with a wicked shot from the outside of the box. Another Neco Williams corner bounced his way, and he cracked an effort onto the bar with keeper Christensen well beaten.

A point away from home in Europe is always a valuable thing, but Dyche and his players will be left wondering what might have been.

19:48

JOEL WARD: MOMENTS CHANGE GAMES

"The defensive structure has been a lot more solid. There was a clearer picture to what they were trying to do. When you look at it, moments change games. Whether it's the penalty or the Dominguez hits the crossbar late on. I think they'll take a lot of positives from the clean sheet, because that's where they've fallen apart this season so far."

19:45

MICHAIL ANTONIO: A GOOD POINT FOR FOREST

"I think it's a good point, They've managed to keep a clean sheet which they've not been able to do for a very long time. They might be slightly disappointed, but I feel like they used their squad and their squad players done well."

19:39

MIKE MINAY: A NIGHT OF NEARLIES

"A night of nearlies for Nottingham Forest. They missed a penalty in the first-half, they've hit the bar in the second."

full-time

FULL TIME

'AND THAT'S THAT

A good point? Before the game they might have taken in, but it's hard not to think Forest could have had more. They never looked like conceding, and Dyche should be impressed with that.

92'

SHOULD FOREST BE HAPPY WITH A POINT? KEOWN:

"I think the manager will be by and largely pleased with the number of players he's got out injured [and] the team he's had to put out. Although his team has been short of fitness, it's been a good night to get Gibbs-White through unscathed, Murillo gets a few minutes at the back. This young man [Abbott] has done really well since he came on, by the way. Really impressed. He's handling the ball well. He's not frightened of it. A lot of players get on the ball and you see a bit of fear. That's a common problem for the modern day player, how you overcome fear. Enjoy yourself and go and play."

90'

FOUR MINUTES TIME TO BE ADDED ON

90'

DOMINGUEZ NEARLY WINS IT FOR FOREST!

Neco Williams' high, deep ball bounces around and falls for Dominguez on the edge of the box. He catches it well, and it maybe takes a slight deflection on its way to the bar. The keeper was well beaten.

89'

ABBOTT WINS FOREST A CORNER

He persists with it, playing with confidence, and his attempted cross deflects behind. Good time to get one.

88'

JEYLAND MITCHELL ON FOR ARJAN MALIC

The Costa Rican on loan for the season from Feyenoord.

Substitution in

J. Mitchell

Sturm Graz

Substitution out

A. Malic

Sturm Graz

86'

SEEDY JATTA DOWN THE RIGHT FOR GRAZ

Sangare does well to steal it off his toe and send the ball back the other way.

83'

TIME RUNNING OUT

Can Forest do something with the few minutes remaining? Here's a chance, with a lovely little flick on from Ndoye. It almost starts a nice little move but the keeper is ultimately able to gather.

82'

MARTIN KEOWN ON FOREST'S FITNESS WOES

"I think that's a little bit of a red flag as well, run out of steam. One look over to the bench, there. He does take one in the back."
"Again, this is just another fitness thing. These are all things I think Dyche is inheriting."
"Both players who've come off, besieged with cramp."

81'

KARIS FOULS ABBOTT ON THE RIGHT OF THE BOX

It'll be Neco Williams who takes it. Malenkovic gets something on the high ball, but it spins behind.

80'

ZACH ABBOTT ON FOR ARNAUD KALIMUENDO

The nineteen year-old takes a blow to the head seconds after coming on.

Substitution in

Z. Abbott

Nottingham Forest

Substitution out

A. Kalimuendo

Nottingham Forest

78'

STEFAN HIERLANDER ON FOR TOMI HORVAT

Substitution in

S. Hierländer

Sturm Graz

Substitution out

T. Horvat

Sturm Graz

78'

MURILLO ON FOR MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE

Substitution in

Murillo

Nottingham Forest

Substitution out

M. Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

77'

KALIMENDO ALSO LOOKS TO BE CRAMPING

He looks to be in real discomfort, and gets his leg stretched out a bit by a team-mate. Can't see that helping much.

74'

KEOWN ON THE MCATEE SUBSTITUTION

"It seemed the obvious change, obviously he's got cramp. [When] you're not playing that much football, you're relying on the training to be top level. Was that happening under the previous manager?"
"It's conditioning and that's minutes now under the bonnet which will bode well going forward. There's just question marks around the group. Sean Dyche trying to make them fitter, make them stronger. Asking them to do different things in his tactics. It does look a bit flat here, Forest, in terms of their work rate."

70'

NDOYE SHOVES HODL TO THE GROUND TO THE RIGHT OF THE BOX

It's a dangerous place to give away a free kick, especially so unnecessarily. Lucky for him the unmarked Stankovic at the back post can't get enough on it, though.

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