Nottingham Forest v Newcastle: Match Preview, Team News, Prediction
- May 9
- 2 min read
Despite Forest's all season position in a relegation threatening situation, unbelievably if they win tomorrow they will go above us in the PL on goal difference. A sobering thought with Newcastle still needing one point to be mathematically safe.
Another win needed
Aston Villa's 4-0 thumping of Forest in mid week was the biggest-ever win by an English club against an English opponent in European competition.
Although almost certainly already safe from relegation after a run of four wins and an unbeaten run of seven league games Forest will be looking to end the season in style and shake off the disappointment of not getting to the Europa League Final.
Eddie Howe will also be wanting to end the PL season on a higher note than the tune that has been played for most if the last nine months. Last week's win against Brighton was a good start and ended a bad run of five consecutive defeats.
The defeat by Villa might have put a spanner in their recent form but prior to that Forest put five past Sunderland, four past Burnley and three past Chelsea, Forest could score 3+ goals in four straight Premier League fixtures for the first time in 31 years.
Speaking of teams scoring 3+ goals, Newcastle defied the form book to end a four-game Premier League losing run against a previous in-form Brighton side, thanks to goals from Will Osula, Dan Burn and Harvey Barnes's .
It was a great result but, whilst not a bad performance, Brighton controlled the game for long periods and the Lads will need to step up a gear if they are to win tomorrow.
However our recent away record against Forest augers well.
The Toon have avoided defeat in all previous seven Premier League away games at Forest, and have won each of their last four at the City Ground; never before have they earned five straight top-flight away victories against a single team.
Could history be made tomorrow? :)
Team News
Kieran Trippier will probably enjoy a first-XI swansong in the final three game due to Lewis Miley's fractured fibula in training on Tuesday and Miley will miss the rest of the season joining Tino and Schar in that respect.
Anthony Gordon was back on the bench last week and could get a start tomorrow but with Bayern Munich rumoured to have opened talks for his transfer the club may decide not to risk him and we may not see him in the shirt again..
Eddie started with Willock and Murphy in wide positions against Brighton and with Will Osula scoring again it will be interesting to see who Eddie partners Osula with in this game.
Prediction
With just three games to go my hope for the season is that we overhaul Sunderland so that lot down the road don't claim the North East PL bragging rights.
For that reason I won't break a season long run of never betting on the Toon to lose and my usual fiver is going on a 2-1 win.
That was my bet last week and but for Barnes last minute finish I would have cleaned the bookies out :)
Last Post: Eddie's Bingo v Forest
Only by a couple of days Jail.
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Have I missed a bus 🚌
I'm coming around to the view that I'd get rid of var for everything other than goal line technology and maybe serious foul play. I don't think I'd have it for offside until it can be done almost instantly with technology and not still relying on someone selecting a frame for when they think it was kicked.
I just think too much spontaneity has been taken out of it. Like waiting 4 minutes to see if a goal stands.
I didn't really have a problem with Howe playing Hall at right back. People wanted him to experiment and try something new so he has. How would you know if Hall can play at right back,as an option like Tino does on the other side, if you don't try him there. Plus i liked the idea of him being able to cut inside. Trippier is leaving anyway.
If VAR can't make a decision in 30 seconds say, it stops becoming the rules or law and turns in to an opinion, once it has turned in to an opinion then the ref who was stood right next to it should be deemed to have the correct one, whether a panel or 17M viewers think otherwise becomes irrelevant.