The Sean Dyche era is fully up and running at Nottingham Forest after securing his first Premier League win as head coach. Leeds were barely worthy opponents, which is concerning considering the two teams could face a long battle for survival.

Lukas Nmecha put Leeds ahead but they quickly withdrew their challenge as Ibrahim Sangaré, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson secured Forest a first Premier League victory in 10 matches to move them one point off 17th.

Two goals separated by 2min 15sec were the only two noteworthy incidents of dreadful first half. Errors played a key part in both. Nmecha’s opener was Leeds’s first real involvement in the clash, coming 13 minutes in. The striker’s finish was clinical after the visitors capitalised on inept defending from Nicolò Savona 25 yards from goal. It was Leeds’s only shot of the first half.

If that was to embolden Leeds, it was not the case as they soon relinquished the lead. Sangaré was quickest to react to Lucas Perri palming a cross out into the box, when holding the ball did not seem difficult. It was the midfielder’s first goal for the club since arriving in 2023 from PSV Eindhoven, opening his account and bringing the match to life with one side-footed shot.

Without a Premier League win since the opening weekend, Forest needed a reaction against a relegation rival. Dyche’s moulding of the team is becoming more apparent as each game passes. The winger Dan Ndoye operated as an auxiliary right-back when Leeds had possession to try to quell the threat down Forest’s right.

Morgan Gibbs-White puts Forest ahead with a deft header from Omari Hutchinson’s cross. Photograph: Neal Simpson/Getty Images/Allstar

Leeds offered little to no attacking potency throughout the first half. Nmecha, who replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the starting lineup, struggled with the aerial dominance and physicality of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, winning very little in the air and without the support to get the second balls.

Neither side exuded confidence; Forest repeatedly got into the final third without possessing a clinical final ball into the box, while Leeds were the masters of losing possession with ill-advised passes and running into dead ends. Dyche ensured the channels were hit regularly and Gibbs-White tried to get on the ball in an attempt to create something but was not at his inventive best.

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It felt like an occasion where the players needed to do something to inspire the fans, rather than vice versa amid a City Ground lull. It was quiet as 22 men toiled without producing much to justify the ticket price. Forest are clearly better organised than under Ange Postecoglou but required a cutting edge.

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Dyche tried to change that with a triple substitution before the hour. Omari Hutchinson, Taiwo Awoniyi and Ryan Yates were sent on to add guile and workrate with Forest sensing the match was there to be won. Hutchinson swung a perfect cross from the right, which Gibbs-White flicked into the corner to bring the ground back to life.

Matz Sels produced a comfortable save from Daniel James and Calvert-Lewin headed a corner inches wide but there were few causes for concern.

Daniel Farke made his own triple change, including sending on the winger Jack Harrison at left-back. The makeshift defender proved his naivety by bundling over Hutchinson inside the box and Anderson did the rest to remove any lasting nerves.