Alderete and Roefs star as Sunderland enter top four with first away win

Ange Postecoglou's wait for a first win in charge of Nottingham Forest continued after Omar Alderete's header and Robin Roefs' heroics guided Sunderland to a 1-0 victory at the City Ground and third place for now in the table.

After four winless road trips in the Premier League, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League to start his reign, Postecoglou's first home game at the helm also ended in disappointment.

Alderete ghosted in at the far post to nod Granit Xhaka's free-kick beyond Matz Sels late in the first half, following a lacklustre start from the hosts.

Watch Alderete's goal

Energised by the introductions of Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Omari Hutchinson, Forest laid siege to Sunderland's area in the final 20 minutes but could not beat in-form goalkeeper Roefs, who made six saves.

Sunderland go third for now with 11 points, only four behind leaders Liverpool. The Black Cats will end the day in the top four of the Premier League after at least five games for the first time since 30 March 2001.

Forest remain 16th in the table, with five points from six games.

How the match unfolded 

Wilson Isidor spurned a good early chance for Sunderland, scuffing wide on the turn after Nicolas Dominguez had clumsily lost possession on the edge of his own area.

Forest struggled to make any headway for much of the first half, and they fell behind in the 38th minute as Alderete got around the back of their defence to meet Xhaka's free-kick, with his header squirming under Sels.

The defender's header was Sunderland's first away goal from home, and their first goal scored in the first half this season.

Dan Ndoye's shot deflected wide in first-half stoppage time for Forest, but Sunderland were back on the attack after the interval as Isidor had an effort smothered after latching on to Roefs' punt forward.

Elliot Anderson curled over the crossbar from distance, before some loose play from Trai Hume put Sunderland under pressure in the 73rd minute. Roefs bailed him out by repelling Hutchinson's strike with his feet, before clawing Igor Jesus's header to safety.

Forest's clearest chance arrived in the 81st minute, but Chris Wood nodded Hutchinson’s inviting cross wide and Sunderland held on, even going close to a second goal through Lutsharel Geertruida.

Ange's wait for a win goes on

After Postecoglou's first game with Forest, a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal this month, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss declared it would not take long to implement his adventurous style of play.

So far, however, his new team have not yet looked free-flowing in the Premier League, even if they were in patches in their 2-2 draw at Real Betis in the UEFA Europa League in midweek.

For Sunderland's goal, the hosts' defending from that set-piece left plenty to be desired, with Alderete able to beat their offside trap and get a free header from just six yards out.

From then on, the onus was on Forest to take the game to their visitors, but they did not exert any sustained pressure until the final 20 minutes. Even then, they were let down by wasteful finishing – most notably from the previously reliable Wood.

Worryingly for Forest, Postecoglou's ability to work with his new players on the training ground will be limited by their European commitments.

They host Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday, with a testing trip to Newcastle United to follow in the Premier League three days later.

Sunderland soar to third

Regis Le Bris' Sunderland continue to make light of pre-season predictions that they might struggle. No team have been relegated from the Premier League after earning 11 points from their first six games.

The Black Cats played over an hour with 10 men against Aston Villa last week after Reinildo Mandava’s sending off, yet they ended that game frustrated at having to settle for a 1-1 draw.

And they showed similar fight to quieten the City Ground crowd during the first half on Saturday, remaining compact and denying Forest any space between the lines.

It would have been easy for Sunderland to sit back after going ahead, but they also started the second half on the front-foot, with Arthur Masuaku and Chemsdine Talbi having opportunities amid a scramble in the Forest area.

When Forest's spell of pressure arrived, they found Roefs in inspired form. As well as denying Hutchinson and Igor Jesus, he also tipped an Anderson drive around a post and blocked a volley from Wood.

Le Bris will want to keep his players grounded, but if the mythical 40-point mark is what Sunderland need to maintain their Premier League status, they are already over a quarter of the way there ahead of next Saturday's visit to Manchester United.

Club reports

Nottingham Forest report | Sunderland report

What the managers said

Ange Postecoglou: "It was one of those evenings where we should have got the outcome we wanted."

Regis Le Bris: "It is good to win because it wasn't an easy challenge away and it is our first win away in the league so I am really proud for our fans, the group and the squad because we worked hard."

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Sunderland are unbeaten in four Premier League games (two wins, two draws), while they will end the day in the top four of the top flight having played five or more games for the first time since 30 March 2001.

Forest have lost five of their last seven home Premier League games (one win, one draw), as many as their previous 22 home matches in the competition (11 wins, six draws and five losses).

Sunderland’s 11 points from their opening six Premier League games this season (three wins, two draws, 11 losses) are their most in a top-flight season at this stage since 1967/68 (also 11 when converting to three points per win), while it’s the most for a promoted side after six games in the competition since West Ham United in 2012/13 (also 11).

Since the start of 2023/24, sides managed by Postecoglou have conceded 34 Premier League goals from set-pieces, more than any other manager (Gary O'Neil next on 26).