Nottingham Forest 1 Newcastle United 1 | OneFootball

Barnes struck in the 75th minute after former Magpies goalkeeper Matz Sels had looked set to frustrate his former club - but then Anderson rifled home late on to do exactly that.

It was a drab first period, although an early Jacob Murphy cross from the right narrowly evaded both William Osula and Joelinton, then Osula stabbed wide from a Sandro Tonali delivery as the visitors started with purpose.

Lewis Hall - making his 100th appearance in black and white - deflected a Dilane Bakwa curler wide after the Frenchman had jinked inside to make room for a shot, and from the resulting corner, Nick Pope gathered Igor Jesus' header.

A Tonali piledriver flew wide in the 21st minute and a low, long range effort from Anderson skidded off target for the hosts, but chances were few and far between in the opening 45 minutes.

Taiwo Awoniyi should have done better when failing to covert from close range after good work from Bakwa, then in the 34th minute Pope stood tall to block from Jair Cunha.

United had a huge opportunity just before the break, though, when Nick Woltemade advanced and played in Osula, but the in-form frontman's shot was kept out by Sels, who spread himself to make a smart save.

Pope was called into action just after the restart, instinctively patting away from Igor Jesus, then at the other end Bruno Guimarães flashed a free kick just the wrong side of the goal frame after Hall was fouled.

Awoniyi shrugged off Sven Botman to bring the best out of Pope shortly before the hour mark - which is when Eddie Howe introduced Barnes and Jacob Ramsey from the bench.

A Bruno Guimarães shot almost squirted over the line, then seconds later, after racing onto Barnes' ball, the Brazilian was brilliantly denied by Sels.

Newcastle were in the ascendancy and Osula rattled the crossbar with a venomous free kick - then Bruno Guimarães tested Sels once more after the ball cannoned back into play.

Sels, who made 14 appearances for Newcastle almost a decade ago, thwarted his former club yet again when he beat away a Joelinton drive - but he could do nothing when Barnes sprinted to reach Ramsey's measured through ball and, with typical aplomb, placed the ball beyond his despairing dive.

His 16th goal of the campaign in all competitions was his second in successive games but proved not to be the matchwinner.

Pope got down low to hold an Igor Jesus snapshot as Forest pushed for a late leveller, but he was left with no chance when Anderson's effort arrowed into the net in the 88th minute.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Malick Thiaw, William Osula (Yoane Wissa 71), Jacob Murphy (Harvey Barnes 61), Nick Woltemade (Jacob Ramsey 61), Dan Burn, Bruno Guimarães (c) (Kieran Trippier 90+5)

Subs not used: Aaron Ramsdale, Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga, Joe Willock, Alex Murphy