Vitor Pereira appointment at Nottingham Forest: TNT Sports panel discuss whether new arrival at City Ground is a 'massive gamble' or logical move
Published 16/02/2026 at 21:02 GMT
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The TNT Sports panel on the Breakdown discussed whether Nottingham Forest had made the right decision by sacking Sean Dyche and bringing in former Wolves boss Vitor Pereira. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis made the decision for the club to appoint their fourth manager of the season after a 0-0 draw to fellow strugglers Wolves. Joe Cole and Ally McCoist also made their predictions for relegation.
Highlights: Stalemate between Forest and Wolves in relegation scrap
Video credit: TNT Sports
Nottingham Forest have appointed Vitor Pereira as the club's fourth manager of the season - but is it the right decision?
Forest sit 17th in the Premier League after and sacking previous manager Sean Dyche following their 0-0 home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.
West Ham United are in 18th, just three points behind Forest following a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, and are managed by former City Ground boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Pereira is the fourth man to take charge at the City Ground this season after Nuno, Ange Postecoglou and Dyche.
It is also a quick return to the Premier League for Pereira after he was let go from his role as Wolves head coach at the start of the campaign.
Speaking on The Breakdown, TNT Sports expert Ally McCoist pointed out that there would be nowhere for the owner to hide if his side were relegated, given the amount of managerial turnover already in the season so far.
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'Trigger happy' Forest 'panicked' in sacking Dyche, say Keown and Crouch
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"If he doesn't, it's the wrong decision," said McCoist. "It's as clear-cut as that. The owner has made the decision he's going to live and die by.
"It’s a massive gamble. The one thing that he has to get immediately is a reaction from the players."
Premier League relegation battle
| Points | Goal difference | |
| 15th - Leeds | 30 | -9 |
| 16th - Tottenham | 29 | -1 |
| 17th - Nottingham Forest | 27 | -13 |
| 18th - West Ham | 24 | -17 |
| 19th - Burnley | 18 | -23 |
| 20th - Wolves | 9 | -32 |
Discussing the decision to let Dyche go, TNT Sports expert Joe Cole said that because of the recent dip in form, he could understand the choice to some extent, but still thought the former Burnley manager would have kept Forest in the top flight.
"I can see the logic behind it, [but] if Dyche had stayed I think they would have stayed up," Cole said.
'Momentum so important' in relegation fight
Cole also tipped Forest to go down as he and McCoist praised West Ham’s recent resurgence.
Both Burnley and Wolves look doomed, with Burnley still nine points from safety despite their incredible comeback win over Crystal Palace, and Wolves 18 points adrift.
That leaves West Ham and Forest as sides most likely to occupy the third spot in the drop zone.
Cole plumped for Forest to go down, noting that his allegiance lies with his former team, who have won three of their last five league matches.
"I'm going to go Forest [to be relegated], but that's more my heart," Cole said.
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He then picked out Crysencio Summerville as a key figure in the fight to stay up, adding: "For West Ham, you know the most important player who they keep fit, who's come from nowhere? Summerville."
McCoist agreed and noted that England forward Jarrod Bowen provided a threat from the other flank.
"The two wide players have been fantastic," he offered. "Bowen's just a different level, Summerville's form is just terrific. They look far more solid. I just think momentum is so important."
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Highlights: Sesko rescues point for Man Utd with dramatic late leveller
Video credit: TNT Sports
McCoist said that one advantage West Ham have is their team spirit, and he name-checked rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace as examples of teams who might struggle because of a lack of stability.
With Fabian Hurzeler seemingly not certain to stay on at the end of the season at the Amex, and Palace due to lose Oliver Glasner in the summer, it seems that West Ham are in the unusual position of having a firmer foundation after a few years of struggle under a succession of managers.
"You talk about Brighton, you talk about Palace, there's a lot of uncertainty. There's one thing West Ham have got, and that's unity," McCoist added.
Prior to returning to Premier League action at home to Liverpool on Sunday, Forest face Fenerbahce on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League - live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
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