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Ange Postecoglou is set to persuade Nottingham Forest’s board to retain faith in his managerial philosophy when he meets with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis this week.

Defiant Postecoglou detects signs of progress during winless run

The Australian was in unbowed, almost jocular form after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. It extended his run without a win to seven games since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo last month. Yet Postecoglou, who unusually started with a five-man defense, identified indications of improvement as he prepares for crucial discussions with City Ground directors.

"Indeed, it’s a lost cause," he said, with irony. "I view this as an exciting opportunity. You have to be ready for the battle and the challenge. It would be foolish to be sitting here at the sixty years old if I lacked self-belief or determination. Even in the schoolyard I chose battles with people that defeated me."

Top flight theater gently mocked

Warming to his theme, the Forest manager lightly teased the drama of English top division that almost demands that at least one manager is always deemed 'in trouble'. "I understand that it’s part of the spectacle of the Premier League that it requires one manager to be in the spotlight. Should individuals wish to assess me less than a month into the role, there's nothing I can say or actions that will change that."

"But what I have seen and felt in this timeframe is that we are moving in the direction I want us to. Positive outcomes will come. For now it is a struggle and a contest and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't have things handed to us without effort in existence, we have to fight. I have fought for things all my life. Why must everyone want everything neatly packaged? The attitude nowadays appears that, as quickly as something fails, you change it."

Embracing the challenge at the club

Amid much hilarity, he implied that a journalist might have been "a lost cause at some point but your parents persevered on you."

The manager then restated that he had joined the Nottingham Forest with his full awareness and always recognized that his effort to alter the team's approach would not be straightforward. "I was aware this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I'm unsure why people think difficulties are a problem, I love a challenge. The alternative is sitting at home watching games and I prefer not to do that. Should journalists have great enjoyment about this situation I am unconcerned. It doesn't bother me."