The City Ground awaits – Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United preview | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United

Sunday 10 November – A 2pm kick-off

Newcastle travel to the City Ground this Sunday to do battle with third placed Nottingham Forest, in yet another match selected for live UK TV coverage.

The Toon will be looking to build on superb wins over both Chelsea and Arsenal in their past two matches, whilst Forest will be hoping to continue their excellent form that sees them comfortably sitting in the Champions League places after ten games, having tasted only one league defeat all season.

Over the past six league matches, Newcastle have won just once, but that was in excellent fashion against Arsenal last weekend.

Three defeats (Fulham, Brighton and Chelsea) and two draws (Man City and Everton) means we’ve taken just five points from a possible eighteen, making a win this weekend imperative.

All results going our way could mathematically see us in the top four but a dreadful weekend could see us slump to thirteenth place.

Nottingham Forest have now won three on the bounce (West Ham, Leicester and Crystal Palace). In the last six matches they’ve also drawn twice (Chelsea and Brighton) and lost once (Fulham at home). A win could fire them to within a point of second placed Manchester City going into the international break but the congested nature of the table means a defeat could see them drop as low as eighth.

Newcastle, without a win in five league matches, were far superior to title challengers Arsenal in a fine team performance that saw United achieve a deserved 1-0 win, that had Toon fans from all over the world raising a glass to Isak’s tremendous winning goal.

Top performances from Gordon, Joelinton, Willock, Hall and Livramento made this our game of the season so far. More of the same please lads!

Forest were also celebrating at the weekend having blown West Ham away with a superb 3-0 win, kick-started by in-form striker Chris Wood, who knows all about Newcastle having played for the Toon under Eddie Howe. Forest look good in attack but even better at the back, the seven goals they’ve conceded being the second lowest of any team in the Premier League.

Stat attack

Newcastle have lost just two out of their last eight league matches at the City Ground, with both defeats coming in the Championship.

Newcastle have played six Premier League matches away at Forest, winning three and drawing three.

Newcastle have scored a whopping twelve goals in their past four away games at Nottingham Forest.

Memorable match

Forest played host to Newcastle in a 2011 League Cup tie that had everything! When Peter Lovenkrands gave United a 1-0 halftime lead there was no indication of the drama that was soon to unfold. Forest equalised at the start of the second half but Lovenkrands then scored from the penalty spot to restore our advantage. Six minutes later it was all square again and the 2-2 draw over ninety minutes sent the tie into extra time.

Danny Simpson looped a cross into the Forest net three minutes in and it looked like that might be enough to take the Toon into the next round. It remained 3-2 until the final six minutes of extra time when Forest scored a third equaliser that night to seemingly send the tie to a dreaded penalty shootout.

In the very last minute of extra time however, Collocini rose highest to slam a header into the back of the net and win the match, sending the travelling Toon Army into raptures. Final score 4-3 (AET) Great stuff!

Played for both

All eyes will be on Chris Wood this weekend who is having a phenomenal season in the red shirt of Nottingham Forest.

Statistically, the second best striker in the league (behind only Erling Haarland), Wood scoring eight goals in ten Premier League appearances this season.

He scored four league goals for The Toon between 2021-2023 including a fine header to equalise in a 2-1 away win at Southampton the night Bruno scored his first for the club.

Toon Captain Jamaal Lascelles began his career at Nottingham Forest and played thirty two league games for the Tricky Trees before signing for United in 2014 and being loaned immediately back for one season. He began playing for Toon in 2015 and quickly showed his leadership qualities, being made captain by the inspirational Rafa Benitez.

Jermaine Jenas was signed by Sir Bobby from Forest in 2002 and made his full debut in a victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. He won PFA young player of the year in 2003 and stayed with NUFC until signing for Spurs in 2005.

Stuart Pearce is one of the best defenders England has ever produced. A legend at Nottingham Forest, he was signed for Newcastle by Kenny Dalglish in 1997 and cracked home a belting goal in the Champions League at home to Dynamo Kiev. He ended his first season at United at the old Wembley in the 1998 FA Cup Final. Unfortunately, he left with nothing more than a runner-up medal following a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal.

Managers

Eddie Howe after a 1-0 win over Arsenal –

“You have to be really strong mentality and know results will turn if you continue to do the right things. It has been a difficult week with the fixtures but the players have done really well. There was a better feeling in training after the Chelsea win, as if pressure lifted slightly. Today’s performance was built on hard, work, desire and a lot of really good defending in the second half. I thought we looked good”.

Nuno Espirito Santo after a 3-0 success at home to West Ham –

“It’s about the players. They’ve been working very hard. We’ve seen the games and our stats and the way we help each other, the desire to win the ball back in the right places, it’s working out ok. The table doesn’t mean anything now. It’s about the next one. You know better than me that the next one is always going to be more difficult, it’s going to be a tough one.”

Charity

As it is an away match, Newcastle United fans will not be collecting opposite the Gallowgate end,, for the food bank. However, you can still help out and all online cash donation are very much appreciated. For further info and/or to donate to the food bank online go HERE.

Prediction

It’s the battle of the in-form strikers this weekend.

In the red corner is Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood with eight goals in ten appearances. The former Toon man scored a hat-trick against his former club last season and you can bet your bottom dollar he’d love a repeat performance.

Representing the Toon however, is Alexander Isak, who has now scored three in three games to take his seasonal tally to four.

He’s also managed three goals in two league games against Forest including a fine brace in a 2-1 win at the City Ground in March 2023. I think this will be a cracking match for the neutral and I’m backing both of the above strikers to find the net. Isak to open the scoring but a Chris Wood equaliser to make it 1-1 at halftime.