Sean Dyche sacked: Nottingham Forest in talks with Vitor Pereira to take over

Following Forest’s 0-0 draw with Wolves on Wednesday, Dyche sounded like a man who knew what was to follow.

After an incredible 35 attempts on goal without scoring – more attempts than any team Dyche has managed in his 351 games in charge – the draw left them just three points clear of the drop zone.

A frustrated Marinakis was pictured frequently during the City Ground draw with him appearing to be growing increasingly frustrated with every missed opportunity.

Post match – and before his dismissal – Dyche said: “The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt. If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. We’ve all seen it.

“People can demand change, and then it’s always whether they change or not.

“If the owner wants to make a change then that’s up to him, and that’s the way football is now, that’s just the reality of it.

“I understand the noise here has changed significantly since the last few games.”

Dyche undoubtedly arrived at Forest in difficult circumstances, but he appeared to steady the ship after a poor run of results under Postecoglou, winning seven of his first 12 games.

If results were taken from when Dyche took over, Forest would be mid-table, six points above third-from-bottom Tottenham.

He was even nominated for Premier League manager of the month a week ago, with two wins and one loss from their past six matches.

Speaking on Match of the Day, just an hour before Dyche’s dismissal, ex-England striker Alan Shearer backed the former Burnley boss.

He said: “I think with his know-how and his experience in the Premier League, I would without a doubt stick with Sean.”

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy, added: “I think for this battle at the bottom you wouldn’t want a better manager than him.

“He’s been there, done it, he stays calm. I think they’d be crazy to get rid of him.

“The other thing as well I suppose for Marinakis is if it wasn’t for him they wouldn’t be in the Premier League and they wouldn’t be in Europe.

“So maybe he’s got the right to do what he wants, but I don’t think there’s a manager you could bring in who is as capable as [Dyche] in this fight.”