Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players | OneFootball

We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0.

A good win, and a good – not great – performance. But three points and a clean sheet to take into the international break will do me just fine.

For all the gloom around the City Ground, Forest gave us a good game, without putting us under any real pressure.

Our midfield and defence helped to make our keeper’s afternoon stress-free.

Although some players will score more than others, as ever, I’d say this was a good team performance.

We stuck to the task for 90-odd minutes, we were patient, and we got our reward.

A side issue, but I thought two of our old boys – Sels and Anderson – were Forest’s best players.

Nick Pope 7

Didn’t really have more than a couple of half-hearted shots to deal with but was confident on crosses.

His distribution is never going to be top rank but he didn’t commit any howlers.

Kieran Trippier 7

With Lewis Hall joining Livramento on the treatment table, Tripps can anticipate a lot of game time today.

He was good for the most part today. Even at 35, he still wants to get up the park.

Malick Thiaw 8

It was love at first sight for Newcastle fans when Malick Thiaw first put on the black and white and the love affair shows no sign of ending.

He has speed, he has time, and he has skills. Never looked flustered. Quality player.

Sven Botman 7

He had to throw himself in front of a barrage of shots last week against Arsenal but this was a far more relaxed afternoon.

Big Sven was composed and assured. Always seemed to be in the right place.

Dan Burn 7

BDB is – apparently – 6kg heavier than when he was a regular left back for us.

But in Tino and Hall’s absence he’s filled in well.

Beaten for pace a couple of times but otherwise pretty good. Wasn’t afraid to battle when needed.

Bruno Guimaraes 9

When I did this last weekend, I said we lost the midfield to Arsenal.

Well this week our midfield were instrumental in the victory and Bruno was the pick of the bunch.

He never stopped, didn’t give the ball away (he has a bit of recent form for that), scored a belter when we needed it, and won the penalty for the second.

Player of the Match for me; his best performance for a while.

Sandro Tonali 8

Not far behind Bruno.

Loads of energy, spotted the passes others didn’t, and was silky on the ball. A huge talent.

Joelinton 7

I don’t know if Joe is trying to modify his game but he seems less combative than he was.

He still had a good game, passed well and came close to scoring a couple of times.

Anthony Elanga 5

I’ll give Elanga the benefit of the doubt and say this wasn’t the ideal game for him.

Had we been playing Ange’s Spurs side, he’d have had a space the size of the Gobi desert to run into, but Forest defended deep.

Having said that, he dwelt on the ball too long sometimes, and didn’t create much. He’s not there yet.

Nick Woltemade 8

Getting stronger, getting faster, getting fitter.

He plays with his back to goal, which seems to give defenders licence to grab him, pull him and kick him whenever they want, safe in the knowledge that a referee as useless as Peter Bankes is never going to penalise them.

But it also allows him to play others in and he has the skill to do that to great effect.

Scored a Shearer-like penalty to cement the victory. It’s noticeable that we hardly talk about Isak now.

Anthony Gordon 6

Played quite well in the first half.

Came looking for the ball, played some crisp firs-time passes, and – without really threatening Forest – kept their defence under pressure.

Faded a bit in the second half.

Subs:

Jacob Murphy 6

Did what Elanga didn’t, in getting a couple of early balls into the box.

But for Sels, he would have had two assists. Only on for 20 minutes but they were good.

Harvey Barnes 6

Looked pretty good too.

Forest were chasing the game when he came on but he looked ambitious and direct.

William Osula N/A (Not on long enough to judge)

Not sure he touched the ball, but was a nuisance. At 2-0 up, that’s fine by me

Lewis Miley N/A (Not on long enough to judge)

Stretched his legs

Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Sunday 5 October 2025 2pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Bruno 58 Woltemade 84 pen

Forest:

Possession was Newcastle 52% Forest 48%

Total shots were Newcastle 18 Forest 5

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 Forest 4

Corners were Newcastle 8 Forest 1

Touches in the box Newcastle 33 Forest 16

Newcastle team v Forest:

Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Joelinton (Miley 92), Tonali, Gordon (Barnes 70), Woltemade (Osula 92), Elanga (Murphy 70)

Unused subs:

Ramsdale, Krafth, Willock, Lascelles, Schar

(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after 2-0 Forest match – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Newcastle United fixtures (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Saturday 18 October – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)

Tuesday 21st October: Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)

Saturday 25 October – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Wednesday 29 October – Newcastle v Spurs (8pm) ITV and Sky Sports

Sunday 2 November – West Ham v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 5th November: Newcastle United vs Athletic Club (8pm)

Sunday 9 November – Brentford v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports