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The Australian manager is determined to convince Nottingham Forest’s board to retain faith in his coaching approach when he meets with the team's principal Evangelos Marinakis this week.

Resolute Forest boss detects signs of progress during poor results

The Australian was in defiant, almost jocular mood after the weekend loss at Newcastle. It prolonged his winless streak to seven matches since he succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo last month. Yet Postecoglou, who surprisingly started with a five-man defense, identified indications of improvement as he prepares for crucial discussions with City Ground directors.

"Indeed, this is hopeless," he said, with irony. "I view this as an thrilling chance. You have to be up for the fight and the struggle. I’d be silly to be sitting here at the sixty years old if I was without self-belief or fight. Back in the schoolyard I chose battles with people that beat me up."

Top flight pantomime lightly criticized

Warming to his theme, the Forest manager gently mocked the drama of Premier League football that typically requires that at least one manager is always considered 'under pressure'. "I get that this is part of the fanfare of the Premier League that it needs a coach to be in the spotlight. Should individuals wish to assess me less than a month into the role, there's no words or do that will change that."

"But what I have seen and experienced in this timeframe is that we are moving in the direction I want us to. Positive outcomes will arrive. For now it is a battle and a contest and there is no issue with that. We don't have things provided easily on a plate in life, we have to work hard. I have fought for things all my life. Why does everyone want everything perfectly arranged? Modern mentality today seems to be that, as soon as something goes wrong, you replace it."

Embracing the test at Nottingham Forest

Amid much hilarity, he implied that a journalist might have been "hopeless at certain time but your family persevered on you."

Postecoglou then restated that he had joined the City Ground with his full awareness and always understood that his attempt to change Forest’s playing style would not be easy. "I was aware this was a significant test," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. I'm unsure why people think difficulties are a burden, I love a test. The alternative is sitting at home viewing matches and I don't want to do that. If you guys have a lot fun around it I am unconcerned. I couldn't care less."