Forest slipped to a 1-0 loss in Portugal after Yates’ unfortunate own goal on Thursday (01.22.26), moments after Morgan Gibbs-White had a penalty saved - leaving qualification for the last 16 hanging in the balance ahead of their final group game.
Speaking with TNT Sports, Yates said: “It’s very disappointing. I feel we controlled most parts of the game, but I unfortunately made a mistake at the other end. Then we could never get a foothold in the game after that.
“When you get handed an opportunity, and you don’t take it, you get punished. I have to hold my hands up. I should have done better.”
Forest had arrived in Braga knowing a positive result would put them firmly in contention for automatic qualification, but a night of fine margins went against them.
Ola Aina struck the woodwork, Gibbs-White blazed another good opening over, and the visitors struggled to settle after conceding.
Yates said: “We are frustrated, as I think we have done enough to win the game. Frustrating when results don’t go your way. We have missed an opportunity, and that’s why we’re frustrated — not that we were terrible on the night.
“It’s fine margins. We have to keep working and put that right. We are still in a solid position in the competition. There’s no negativity in the dressing room, that’s for sure.”
The evening unravelled further late on when midfielder Elliot Anderson was sent off, compounding Forest’s problems and leaving them facing a nervy final match in the league phase.
Braga, meanwhile, secured a top-eight finish and avoided the play-offs altogether.
Attention quickly turned to Dyche, whose side were booed by a sizeable travelling support at full time.
The Forest manager acknowledged the lack of cutting edge in attack and revealed the club are actively looking to strengthen this month.
He said: “There is effort here, that killer edge, we want more of that. It was one minute of madness. It was a game we never looked in trouble in, but we never dominated as much as we would have liked.
“We don’t have a recognised centre-forward and that can make it tricky. The reaction was nowhere good enough for a minute or so. We lost the game to a really poor goal.”
Dyche defended his selection choices, citing workload management, but admitted Forest should have taken at least a point.
He said: “You might come away with a draw, but you shouldn’t really lose that game.”
Forest must now beat Ferencváros at the City Ground and rely on other results to progress, with pressure intensifying on Dyche to deliver a response after a night that left players and supporters deeply frustrated.
