St James’ Park awaits – The Newcastle v Nottingham Forest preview | OneFootball

Welcome to the Newcastle v Nottingham Forest preview.

Sunday 5th October – A 2pm kick-off.

Newcastle and Forest face off this Sunday in an absolutely huge match, as both teams look to put a disappointing start to the league campaign behind them and go into the international break on the back of a much needed victory.

Live on sky sports, there will be a number of familiar faces on display for both teams.

Sels, Anderson and Wood will likely play a part for Forest against their old club, whereas former reds Elanga and Lascelles will be hoping for a Toon win against their former employers.

Newcastle have played six Premier league matches so far – winning one, drawing three and losing two. We’ve scored four goals and conceded five. The six points we’ve accrued so far does not reflect the level of our performances and it’s important that we start picking up wins and putting a run of form together. We’ll start the weekend fifteenth in the Premier League but could end it as high as eighth depending on results elsewhere.

Nottingham Forest have also played six matches in the Premier League this term. They’ve won one, drawn two and lost three. The fact their only win came on the opening day of the season has left fans disillusioned and the decision to replace the popular Nuno Espírito Santo with Ange Postecoglou is currently going down like a lead balloon. Their five points has them seventeenth but a win could have them in the top half by Sunday night. They’ve scored five goals and conceded ten.

Last time out

The Toon travelled to Belgium on Wednesday night to do battle with unbeaten Champions Union S-G. What could have been a tricky away game turned into one of our best ever Champions League performances as a swashbuckling United blew their opponents away.

Ahead early on when a Tonali shot was skilfully flicked into the net by Woltemade, further pressure from the Toon led to a penalty award just before half-time. Up stepped Anthony Gordon to confidently dispatch the spot-kick, giving us a two goal lead in the process. The second half almost got off to a dream start when Elanga (having his best game for the club) got on the end of a slick passing move only to see his shot saved. Union did have their moments but Nick Pope made some fine saves before the game was ended as a contest by a second penalty award for NUFC. Gordon once again sent the penalty bottom right, as he scored his third goal of this Champions League campaign. A raft of changes saw the game calm down near the end but there was still time for a brilliant counter attack to bring a fourth goal for NUFC. Gordon brought the ball out of defence and sharp passing between Barnes and Osula led to a fine goal for the former to wrap up an emphatic victory.

Nottingham Forest were also in European action midweek. They hosted Danish side Midtjylland in a Europa League match on Thursday night and fell to a desperately disappointing 3-2 defeat. New manager Ange Postecoglou was jeered by Forest fans as he became their first manager in a hundred years to fail to win any of his first six matches in charge.

Newcastle have won six of the seven Premiership matches between the teams at St James’ Park.

NUFC have won eight of their last eleven home meetings with Nottingham Forest.

The Toon have never failed to score at home against Forest in the Premier League.

Memorable match

On the opening day of the 22/23 season, NUFC were ready to finally enjoy a full campaign without the restraints of Mike Ashley’s poisonous ownership. Eddie Howe had worked miracles in keeping us up the previous season but now we had very different ambitions and this would be the start of a season that saw us qualify for the Champions League and make a first cup final for twenty-four years. A dominant first half display saw United fail to make the breakthrough with Joelinton particularly profligate in front of goal. Any frustration from the stands at our lack of goals was dispelled by Fabian Schar in the fifty-eighth minute when he took a touch twenty yards from goal before rifling home a simply glorious effort at the Leazes End that flew into the top corner.

The points were then made safe when good work from Joelinton gave Wilson the chance to stylishly lift the ball over the Forest ‘keeper to ensure a fine victory for the Toon. Final Score Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest.

Andy Cole – Kevin Keegan broke the club’s transfer record by splashing out £1.75 million for the striker in 1993. This is a number nine whose record stands up to anyone else’s – a whopping sixty-eight goals in eighty-four matches before being controversially sold to Man United in January 1995 for a British record transfer fee. Some fans were so angry at the sale that they turned up at the stadium demanding answers which Keegan provided, famously standing on the steps to explain his decision. King Kev would go on to sign both Sir Les and Alan Shearer as the entertainers came ‘so close’ to being champions of England for the first time since 1927 but that’s a story for another day. He ended his career by playing ten games for Forest in 2008 without finding the net.

Sammy Ameobi came through the ranks at NUFC before making his debut in 2011. He became the owner of a small piece of club history in 2013 when he and Shola became the first brothers to both score in a competitive Toon match (away at Morecambe in a 2-0 League Cup victory). He failed to establish himself as a regular starter for the Toon and had spells at Middlesbrough, Cardiff and Bolton before signing for Forest. He stayed at the City Ground for three seasons and scored eight league goals.

Daryl Murphy signed for Rafa Benitez in 2016 and despite being injured until January, scored some very important goals as we went on to win the Championship title on the last day of the season. Highlights of his time on Tyneside include scoring the winning goal away at Brentford and a crucial strike to put us 2-0 up away at Huddersfield. He signed for Nottingham Forest in 2017 and spent two years there, scoring eleven championship goals.

Managers

Eddie Howe after a 4-0 victory away to Union S-G:

“Travelling out here, this was what we wanted – especially after the Arsenal ending. It was a big response from the players because it was a painful way to lose that game. The players had to dig deep, look within themselves and come out fighting again. That’s what we do best. I thought it was a really good display. It was always going to be a tough game but I think as soon as we got that first goal it settled us down and we played really well. There were certainly some good bits from the front three. There was a feeling we could score at any moment in the game. Two of the goals have come from penalties but we’ve scored four away from home. We couldn’t have asked for any more and there were some good individual performances, which is good to see. I thought we attacked well and defended well. Any time you get a clean sheet in the Champions League away from home, it is a good statement to make.

“Hopefully it helps us when we return to the Premier League because we’ve been waiting for a performance like that. It wasn’t perfect – there are things we can improve – but it was a big step in the right direction and in an important stage in the Champions League because we have to start well”.

Ange Postecoglou after a 3-2 defeat at home to Midtjylland:

“The fans are disappointed. They are allowed to have an opinion on it. I heard their opinion. Nothing surprises me in football. It’s the climate we’re in. It seems that’s the way things are going. It’s nothing I can control. My responsibility is to make sure we get some wins for this football club and progress it. I would prefer if people were optimistic in their outlook of what I’m doing. I can only change that by winning games of football. Irrespective, that’s not going to change the way I’m taking things on. I really believe in the process of what we’re doing and I don’t think we’re far away from being the team that can eradicate the situation we’re in at the moment and get the results.”

Charity

Newcastle United fans food bank will once again be collecting opposite the Gallowgate end and gratefully receiving food, money and toiletries for those in need. Of particular interest are non-perishable food and drink items (such as noodles, pasta, rice, canned food, soup, cereal, cordial, long life milk etc) as well as toiletries such as shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste and sanitary products. Please give whatever you can, any donation is very much appreciated.

For further info and/or to donate online go HERE.

Make no mistake about it, this is a huge game for both teams. Don’t be surprised to see a fair few nerves at the start of the match. Despite this, Newcastle looked good midweek, whereas Forest and their new manager are really struggling at present. They won’t be relishing a trip to St James’ Park and I think two second half goals will ensure a win for the Magpies.