Ange Postecoglou faced a supporter backlash as his winless start as Nottingham Forest head coach continued with a desperate Europa League defeat by Midtjylland.
The visitors gatecrashed Forest’s party as European football returned to the City Ground for the first time in 29 years.
Postecoglou has failed to win any of his opening six games since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo last month and home fans chanted that he would be “sacked in the morning” as this game headed towards its closing stages.
Midtjylland’s Ousmane Diao and Mads Bech cashed in on poor Forest defending to convert from set-pieces in the first half – underlining the Danes’ reputation as dead ball kings.
Dan Ndoye scored in between those goals to briefly haul the hosts level, but Midtjylland – second in the Danish Superliga – were back in front two minutes later.
This was a stuttering performance from Forest – who lost Murillo to injury again – against a physical Midtjylland side who denied Postecoglou’s men any momentum and rhythm.
The energetic Elliot Anderson tried to drive Forest forward and Chris Wood had two goals disallowed, but Valdemar Byskov added a late third for the visitors before Wood’s stoppage-time penalty pulled a goal back.