Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle: Season End Fizzle | OneFootball

Seasons that promised so much for both Nottingham Forest and Newcastle have quickly fizzled out, with Sunday’s clash having the feeling of an end of season affair with very little on the line. 

Nottingham Forest Safe (?), But Disappointed

Forest’s hopes of winning the Europa League, and qualifying for next season’s Champions League by doing so, were ruthlessly and brutally ended by Aston Villa on Thursday night when their midlands rivals demolished them by a 4-0 scoreline at Villa Park. 

Hopes had understandably been high going into the game, given Forest held a one-goal advantage from their first-leg win, but their lack of squad depth and an injury crisis exposed the weaknesses that have resulted in Forest battling for survival in the Premier League for much of this campaign. 

Those relegation fears certainly look to have ended following last week’s win over an out of sorts Chelsea side. They sit on 42 points, six clear of West Ham in 18th with only three games remaining. It would certainly be a huge shock if they went down from here. 

In fact, for all Forest’s struggles this season, they could move level on points with their opponents on Sunday with a victory.  

Freefalling Newcastle

It speaks volumes about just how much Newcastle have tailed off this season that this is the situation they find themselves in. Familiar struggles of trying to balance a Champions League campaign with the Premier League, and their inability to replace Alexander Isak’s goals have seen boss Eddie Howe’s position come under increasing pressure this season. 

So while Newcastle may look destined for a mid-table finish whatever happens, victories in these final three games could prove crucial to Howe’s long-term future at the club.

“There’s been no end-of-season feel to our training ground work, that’s really important and while there’s still an opportunity, we’ll try and grab it,” Howe said ahead of the game, on his side’s very slim hopes of still getting into Europe. 

The Marinakis Factor

Ordinarily, Forest boss Vitor Pereira would not find himself under any pressure, having guided the club to the verge of staying up when relegation looked a distinct possibility not all too long ago, but Evangelos Marinakis is no ordinary owner. Marinakis has already sacked three managers this season – including Nuno Espírito Santo, the man who defied the odds by securing European qualification with Forest. 

Marinakis’ passion for the club to be successful is undeniable, but that also comes with a ruthlessness and relentless drive to achieve that ambition. The manner in which Forest exited the Europa League would certainly not have gone down too well with the man at the top.

“Now it is important to win the battle until the end of the season and then we can think about building something to be back in European competition,” Pereira said ahead of their upcoming clash. “I hope our supporters understand that the players fought with everything they had.” 

While the supporters may well understand, convincing Marinakis is a different challenge altogether, however. 

Regardless of how these two great clubs finish the end of the season, there is no denying that this has been a hugely disappointing year for both, and there are still significant questions to be answered about how they avoid the same happening again next season.