Sunderland seal 1-0 win at Forest as Alderete header lifts Black Cats into top four

Sunderland moved into the Premier League's top four after beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground on Saturday night, with Omar Alderete heading the winner in the first half. The goal came from a routine free-kick worked to the back post, where Alderete found himself unmarked and headed past Matz Sels. The result kept Sunderland among the early pace-setters, a notable achievement for a club still adapting to life back in the top flight. The win ensured Sunderland sat in the Champions League places at the end of the day, a status they have not held this far into a season since March 2001 under Peter Reid.

For Forest, Ange Postecoglou’s tenure as manager has begun with a winless run in five league matches, a streak that makes him the first Forest boss to fail to win any of his opening five games since Harry Hallam in 1897. Postecoglou had traveled nearly 3,900 miles to take charge of the team across three countries, and the weekend’s match offered a stark contrast between the attacking moments seen in his European travels and the issues that surfaced at the City Ground. Early in the game, Forest demonstrated glimpses of the quick, incisive football associated with Postecoglou, but they were undone by weakness at set-pieces and a lack of cutting edge in the final third. The decision to defend a set-piece from a free-kick by former Arsenal man Granit Xhaka underlined a vulnerability in the home side that Sunderland expertly exploited.

The goal, which proved decisive, arrived from a free-kick that found Alderete free at the back post. The ball skimmed in from the left and Alderete rose to nod it home, leaving Forest keeper Sels with little chance. The sequence underscored the pattern of the day: Sunderland’s solidity at the back and ability to convert a moment, while Forest were unable to convert pressure into substantial chances over the 90 minutes.

IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Sunderland celebrate at City Ground

Nottingham Forest had more of the ball than in recent games under the previous regime, but they were hampered by a lack of cohesion in the attacking third. Morgan Gibbs-White was rested from the start as Postecoglou rotated his squad to manage European fixtures, a decision that left Forest short of their most creative outlet. When Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi eventually entered the fray, Forest looked more fluid, with Gibbs-White delivering a later cross that Omari Hutchinson headed wide and setting up a late surge. A deflected shot from Gibbs-White earlier in the spell forced a corner, signaling a shift in momentum that Forest failed to capitalize on.

Referee Tony Harrington’s decision to award a free-kick in a dangerous position and the subsequent booking of Nicolas Dominguez for simulation after a challenge with Trai Hume became a talking point after the final whistle. Postecoglou suggested the officiating influenced the game, noting that even if certain calls were debatable, Forest needed to defend the resulting set-piece more effectively. The exchange illustrated the fine margins that decided the match and added to the sense that Forest’s new era would need time to gel under a demanding schedule.

Sunderland endured sustained pressure, but their response was marked by discipline and resolve. Robin Roefs, in goal for Sunderland, endured a barrage of 22 shots, with six on target, and still managed to keep a clean slate through a combination of superb reflexes, clean handling, and timely parries. The 22-year-old’s performance followed a rough spell last week when a long-range effort from Matty Cash slipped through him; this time he steadied the ship, prompting his manager to praise the young shot-stopper’s growing confidence and willingness to push himself further. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said the performance showed Roefs has the right mix of self-assurance and desire to improve, a trait that his club will rely on as they chase a sustained push for European football.

In midfield, Granit Xhaka again demonstrated why he is central to Sunderland’s plans. The club’s birthday boy, a veteran presence in the middle of the park, helped steady the tempo, offered protection for a defensive unit that faced a heavy onslaught, and provided the kind of leadership Sunderland will need in such fixtures. The Swiss international’s contribution helped the visitors absorb Forest’s pressure and then transition quickly when opportunities arose.

Nottingham Forest’s setup in a 4-2-3-1 allowed them to push forward in numbers, but the system often found itself short of a consistent outlet in the final third. Sels yielded a respectable return in goal for Forest, while Alderete’s winner highlighted Sunderland’s willingness to exploit set-piece situations. The hosts also searched for a spark from wide players and late arrivals, but Sunderland’s organization and commitment prevented clear-cut opportunities.

As the match wore on, Forest tried to introduce pace and variety through their substitutes, including the attacking combinations of Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi, while Sunderland looked to protect their lead and control the tempo. The result tightened the early-season picture in the table and sent a message about the balance of power at the City Ground on a night when one team maximized a single moment and the other found it hard to convert chances into an equalizer.

The impact for Sunderland is significant: they sit among the early top four and can point to a credible performance away from home against a side reshaping its identity under a new manager. For Forest, the setback adds to a challenging start, with questions about how quickly the team can translate a broad attacking remit into sustained results. Postecoglou will want to see immediate progression in the next fixtures, particularly in defending set pieces and sustaining pressure in the final third, as he continues to build a squad capable of competing at the higher end of the table. The narrative of the day centered on two contrasting dynamics: Sunderland’s resilience and efficiency when it mattered, and Forest’s struggle to convert momentum into a result while the new coaching regime settles in.