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Guimarães Strike and Woltemade Penalty Deepen Nottingham Forest Crisis in Newcastle-vs-Forest Encounter Newcastle United secured a 2-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest at St James' Park, with second-half goals from Bruno Guimarães and Nick Woltemade, a result that provided a much-needed lift for Eddie Howe’s side but plunged Forest and manager Ange Postecoglou further into difficulty. The afternoon fixture, which marked the final domestic match for both clubs before the international break, proved to be an exercise in patience for the Magpies, who were frustrated by a disciplined Forest defence throughout a cagey opening half. However, the quality of a sensational long-range strike by Guimarães shortly before the hour mark ultimately broke the visitors’ stern resistance, paving the way for the hosts to secure a comfortable three points. The outcome offered a stark contrast in sentiment for the two clubs. For Newcastle, the win delivered their second league victory of the campaign, moving them up to 11th in the table and providing fresh momentum following a comprehensive European win in midweek. For Nottingham Forest, the defeat marked an extension of their worrying winless run across all competitions under Postecoglou to seven matches, leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone. Tactical Resistance Broken Facing immense pressure following a difficult run of form, including a 3-2 home defeat to Midtjylland in the Europa League days earlier, Forest manager Ange Postecoglou opted for a tactical deviation, deploying a back five for the first time in his brief tenure at the club. This change saw the Tricky Trees successfully stifle Newcastle's typical attacking tempo, particularly in the midfield battle where the visitors showed an improved defensive shape. Former Newcastle goalkeeper Matz Sels, now guarding the Forest net, played a critical role in keeping the score level through the first 45 minutes, denying several half-chances and ensuring the teams returned to the dressing rooms locked at 0-0. Statistically, however, Newcastle’s dominance was clear, registering 3.
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05 Expected Goals (xG) by the final whistle compared to Forest's meagre 0. 27, a figure indicating the home side's superior attacking threat throughout the 90 minutes. The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute by a moment of individual brilliance from Bruno Guimarães. The move originated from the Brazilian winning the ball back deep in Forest territory. Receiving the return pass from Dan Burn, Guimarães created space on the edge of the box before curling a precise, powerful right-footed shot past the outstretched hands of Sels and into the top corner. Woltemade Continues Goalscoring Run Guimarães' goal immediately elevated the energy and intensity of the match, allowing Newcastle’s high-pressing game to suffocate a Forest side forced to commit more men forward. The Magpies went close to doubling their lead when summer signing Nick Woltemade saw a powerful half-volley crash against the underside of the crossbar. Woltemade, however, was not to be denied late in the fixture. In the 84th minute, he secured the points after his captain, Guimarães, was felled in the penalty area by a clumsy challenge from former Newcastle academy graduate Elliot Anderson. Stepping up to the spot, the German striker calmly dispatched the penalty into the top left corner.
The goal marked his fourth for Newcastle since his arrival and made him only the third player, alongside Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand, to score in his first three home Premier League games for the club—an impressive statistical feat. Growing Pressure on Postecoglou While the victory was important for Newcastle, providing them with a much-needed platform to climb the table, the wider football narrative centred on the escalating crisis at Nottingham Forest. The defeat means Postecoglou has now failed to secure a victory in any of his first seven matches across all competitions, a run that equals a club record set in 1925 and surpasses the longest winless start since 1960. The Australian manager’s position has been under increasing scrutiny following the team’s recent Europa League exit and their failure to keep a Premier League clean sheet in their last 15 attempts. Postecoglou, speaking after the match, conceded that results must improve but defended his long-term strategy and commitment. “I knew coming in this was a massive challenge, and that hasn't wavered one bit,” Postecoglou told reporters. “The results don’t reflect the way we've tried to embrace what we want to do, but they will come. In the meantime, it’s a struggle and it’s a fight, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I prefer to be in the middle of it where I can make an impact, and I believe I will. ” Veteran BBC Sport analyst, Garth Crooks, suggested the defensive fragility was now compromising their attacking intent.
"Forest showed commendable tactical discipline today, but the lack of an attacking threat is worrying," Crooks commented. "When you're only creating 0. 27 xG, the quality of defending needs to be almost perfect, and unfortunately, two moments of quality from Guimarães proved enough to undo their entire effort. " Outlook The international break now offers Postecoglou two weeks to address the structural issues and tactical deficits within his squad before a challenging run of fixtures. Forest returns to action against Chelsea at home, followed by matches against Manchester United and Liverpool later in the autumn. Newcastle, meanwhile, heads into the break with renewed confidence, now shifting their focus towards an away fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion, a side positioned just above them in the league table. The win over Forest provides a stable foundation for Eddie Howe to build upon as the Magpies look to consolidate a position in the upper half of the Premier League table before the winter schedule intensifies.
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