SEAN DYCHE marched back into the City Ground like he had never been away – and had the perfect homecoming.
The new Nottingham Forest boss was a teenager when he left the club after coming through their youth ranks.
But this was Dyche coming full circle after 35 years – in his first game in charge since replacing the sacked Ange Postecoglou.
And after the Australian failed to win in eight games, Dyche immediately won the hearts of the Forest faithful – thanks to two penalty kicks and a couple of VAR interventions.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s first half spot-kick – followed by another with 15 minutes to go from Igor Jesus – stopped the rot.
Not only that, it injected new life into Forest’s Europa League campaign, with their first win in the tournament this season – against a Porto side who had been unbeaten so far in all competitions.
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Forest’s humiliation at the hands of Midtjylland earlier this month sparked a crowd reaction which was the beginning of the end for Postecoglou.
But that became a distant memory as Dyche rallied his troops and served up a proper European night by the banks of the River Trent.
Dyche and his backroom staff – who all have Forest connections – were given a rapturous welcome from the City Ground fans.
The new boss, along with Forest legends Steve Stone and Ian Woan, warmly applauded supporters in response.
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Dyche has made much of his Nottingham connections as a former youth player.
Tacksuited Dyche’s team selection was a return to the formula that had brought former boss Nuno Espirito Santo success.
Dan Ndoye, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Igor Jesus all came back into the side to make up Forest’s front three.
And it was Hudson-Odoi who almost gave Dyche the perfect start to his Forest reign with a powerful shot that stung the hands of Porto keeper Diogo Costa.
But Forest took the lead soon after with an 18th-minute opener.
Ex-Southampton defender Jan Bednarek went for a high ball with Igor Jesus and Romanian ref Radu Petrescu pointed to the spot.
A VAR check confirmed the decision and Gibbs-White cooly slotted the spot-kick home – sending Costa the wrong way.
That brought the City Ground to life – with fans desperate to end a run which had seen Forest fail to win since the opening day of the season.
The goal also signalled the first time Porto had trailed in a season which had only seen them concede two goals.
But Varela then produced Porto’s best attempt of the game so far with a long range effort which Matz Sels smothered.
Dyche then made a substitution before the break as Oleksandr Zinchenko went down with an injury after signalling that he was struggling. That brought sub Nicola Savona into the action.
But Porto were showing signs of being a threat – and Samu Aghehowa hooked a shot just wide from inside the six-yard box.
And they seemed to have levelled the scores six minutes after the break.
Bednarek looked to have made amends for his earlier handball when he pounced after a pinball in the Forest six yard box.
But VAR stepped in and Samu was in an offside position during a flurry of action.
Hudson-Odoi then had a chance to make it two with 22 minutes to go, but his shot was blocked.
Porto had looked capable of producing an equaliser, but it was Forest who sealed the game with a second penalty after some confusion.
Ref Petrescu booked Savona for diving under a challenge from Martim Fernandes.
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But VAR checked for a possible penalty kick – and Petrescu changed his mind after consulting the touchline TV screen.
This time is was Jesus’ turn to stay calm and convert the penalty.
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