Nottingham Forest show changing managers works as they thrash Fenerbahce

With the visit of champions Liverpool this weekend, the feelgood factor could evaporate swiftly if results conspire against Forest and dump them nearer the bottom three.

The Europa League has proved a welcome distraction, and this comfortable victory gives them a huge chance of extending their excursions into next month. Forest will face either Real Betis or FC Midtjylland in the round of 16 if they can complete the second leg.

Positive and full of energy, it did feel like the shackles of Dyche’s often cautious approach had been removed.

In what has been a chaotic and difficult season, this was arguably Forest’s best performance of the campaign.

Forest were dominant from the start against a Fenerbahce team with a number of familiar Premier League faces in N’Golo Kanté, Ederson, Mattéo Guendouzi, Nélson Semedo, Marco Asensio and Caglar Soyuncu.

It was Murillo, the Brazilian centre-back with the build of a boxer, who produced the first moment of magic to reward their pressure. As a ball-playing left-sided defender, he is likely to emerge as a transfer target for heavyweight clubs such as Chelsea in the summer. 

He has been threatening a spectacular individual goal ever since his move from Corinthians in 2023. Taking the ball from the halfway line, he evaded challenges from two Fenerbahce players before advancing towards the area and directing a 25-yard shot into the bottom corner.