Newcastle United (H) 10/02/24

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Newcastle United

Elanga 26'                                      Guimaraes 10', 66'

Hudson-Odoi 45+6'                      Schar 43'

 

Poor set-piece defending cost Forest again as Guimaraes scored a brace and Newcastle United took all three points from the City Ground.

 

Forest looked to do the double over the Geordies after a 3-1 win on Boxing Day back up Tyneside. In the two sides past ten meetings, both had won five each with no game being won by more than two goals. The Reds named Nicolas Dominguez and Ryan Yates back in their starting eleven following their suspension in midweek’s FA cup fixture vs Bristol City. A surprise inclusion for Anthony Gordon as he was an injury doubt going into today’s game. Alexander Isak left Villa Park on crutches two weeks ago leaving a space for Callum Wilson to start upfront for the Mags.

 

A great chance for Nuno’s men to take the lead in the 5^th minute after a near miss from Morgan Gibbs-White. Nuno Tavares found himself in behind the Newcastle defence after a great pass from Taiwo Awoniyi. The on-loan Arsenal man was too wide so he pulled the ball back for an on coming Gibbs-White who fired just right of the post from the edge of the box.

 

Just a few minutes later, the Toon looked to take the lead after Sean Longstaff carried the ball without being greeted by a defender so decided to strike goalwards. The low shot was met by ‘keeper Mats Sels, who produced a smart stop.

 

In the 10th minute, Newcastle found themselves with a corner. The ball was played to Kieran Trippier who was helped by Gordon blocking Anthony Elanga and he whipped in a cross to the back post. Bruno Guimaraes found himself unmarked and unleashed a right-footed volley beyond Sels into the bottom right corner and the Mags had the lead.

 

Looking for a response, Forest played the ball forward before Dominguez played Elanga in behind the Geordie defence. Through his pace, the Forest twenty-one snook behind Dan Burn and found himself one on one. Too many touches and a wider angle prevented him finding the net as Martin Dubravka came out to make a stop.

 

After helping out defensively, Callum Hudson-Odoi found Gibbs-White in space in the middle of the park. He placed a through ball to Elanga and once again, the winger’s pace meant he was in behind. Dubraka came but was too late and wriggling his way between Burn and Sven Botman, the Swedish international managed to find the back of the net through the ‘keeper’s legs. Forest were back in it, 1-1.

 

The Reds bounced back brilliantly from going a goal behind, having the majority of possession and creating a few chances especially down the right hand side targeting Newcastle’s weakness: Burn’s pace. Despite this, the Geordies regained the lead. A silly foul from Ryan Yates meant the vistors had a free kick on the halfway line. Tripper’s cross was deep but was met by Botman, after a bounce, who headed across goal before Fabian Schar fired home from fifteen yards. Poor defending from a set-piece yet again for Forest as Schar found himself unmarked but the defender still did well to finish beyond Sels.

 

Newcastle thought they were going into the break leading but Forest had other ideas. After a penalty appeal on a shove in the back on Elanga was turned away, Forest found themselves flying forward again. Hudson-Odoi received the ball wide before playing into Domiguez. The winger created space for himself as Domiguez replayed him the ball and he shot from just outside the box. A big deflection off Lewis Miley meant Dubravka was wrongfooted and the strike beat the ‘keeper at the near post.

 

Halftime, 2-2.

 

A few minutes into the second half, Forest wanted another penalty. The ball seemed to hit Tripper’s right hand as he shielded the ball but all appeals were waved away by referee, Anthony Taylor, and somehow the Toon were awarded a goal kick.

 

Awoniyi then had the ball in the net after finishing brilliantly at a tight angle but the flag was raised for offside and celebrations were immediately put to a stop.

 

The Forest striker found himself in behind again after a lovely ball from Sels. He beats Botman to the ball and stumbles but recovers to take the ball past Dubravka. The Newcastle goalkeeper seems to have made contact with Awoniyi and he goes down but the referee and VAR both take a look before deciding no penalty should be awarded.

 

The Geordies looked to regain the lead by getting the ball down their left but after defensive work from Elanga and Neco Williams, Forest seemed to have relieved the pressure. Elanga looked to play the ball inside to Gibbs-White but Guimaraes read the pass and drove forward. Dominguez looked to get out to block the shot but he was blocked by Burn and the Brazilian midfielder had  space to fire a shot. Sels managed to get a hand to it but the pace was too much and the ball crept into the bottom right corner. Forest protested a foul on Dominguez but the goal stood.

 

Forest ended the game the much better team looking for an equaliser. Their closest chances came from Tavares and Gibbs-White who both narrowly missed. Their opportunities and possession came to nothing and the Toon were taking all three points back to St James Park.

 

I think we were really unlucky today as we were the better team with the better chances. Gibbs-White and Elanga should’ve done better with their chances in the first half and maybe we would’ve had a different result. Our best player was Dominguez as he did so much running for the team today. Tavares also had his best game in a Forest shirt and with better decision making, he too could’ve found himself on the scoresheet. Anthony Taylor was appalling tonight, making some questionable decisions and letting a lot go. In my opinion, we should’ve had a penalty for the challenge on Awoniyi and Domiguez was clearly blocked off for Newcastle’s third goal so that shouldn’t have stood.

 

Forest: Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Tavares; Yates (Reyna 73'), Dominguez (Danilo 78'); Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi (Origi 68')

 

Newcastle United: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Miley (Livramento 81'), Guimaraes; Almiron (Barnes 60'), Wilson, Gordon (Krafth 90')