Despite leading at half-time, Nottingham Forest fell to defeat against Newcastle United — here’s three things about their 3-1 loss at the City Ground. George Edwards was at the match
Adversity struck and a reality check was given at the City Ground, as Nottingham Forest were outclassed for the first time this season, conceding three second-half goals and looking out of attacking ideas as they failed to respond.
It’s not the first disappointing result of the season: they should have beaten Bournemouth and Wolves, and the narrow defeat from Fulham was largely avoidable.
However, Forest were outplayed for the first time this campaign, deserving defeat and never really looking like coming back after going behind to the visitor’s second goal. But the Reds are still (joint) third in the Premier League and can still dare to dream, so here’s three talking points from that defeat to the Magpies.
Beaten by the better side
If you’re not at it in the Premier League, you’ll get punished.
Newcastle seem to have had Forest’s number at the City Ground since promotion — since the Premier League in fact. The Magpies are now unbeaten in all seven PL games they’ve played in Nottingham and came to town at a time when momentum was starting to build, and don’t Forest know it?
Particularly in the second half, Newcastle were a step above, winning their duels and taking their chances, while keeping Forest at arm’s length. Any ball in and around the six-yard box was smothered by Nick Pope and the midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock dominated.
Eddie Howe’s side were undoubtedly the best team to come to the City Ground this season, and perhaps put in the best performance Forest have faced, home or away, to date. That, coupled with the fact Forest were sloppy on the ball and lost composure at the back, meant it was a recipe for disaster.
Conceding their first set-piece goal of the season, Forest’s zonal marking from corners was finally floored — always the risk when marking in that manner against a side filled with height. Morgan Gibbs-White struggled to influence but was always involved, with all sense of creativity evaporating after he was substituted for Elliot Anderson.
It was, all in all, a bad day at the office for the Reds, and one they must swiftly put behind them.
Murillo finally gets his moment
It’s such a shame that the moment we’ve all been waiting for was overshadowed by a dismal team display.
And for all the audacious attempts and ambitious long shots, of course it was a classic defender’s goal, a bullet header at the near post, that saw Forest’s fan favourite finally funnel home his first goal in the Garibaldi.
Forest’s feisty and fearless Brazilian international has, along with partner Milenkovic, been the platform that Forest’s success this season was built on, but we all know he’s been waiting for a moment in the other box.
Anthony Elanga’s set-piece delivery this season has been a constant threat, so much so that James Ward-Prowse wasn’t ambushed back into Forest’s starting XI after his suspension. Spot on once again, Murillo’s eyes lit up and the header was perfect, nodding down past Pope and into the back of the net.
His infectious smile was visible from all four corners of the stadium, buoyant in singing celebration as the Brazilian finally notched. Perhaps the most savoured individual moment since Ryan Yates’ first Premier League strike at Brammall Lane last year, Murillo has been truly accepted into the Forest family with open arms and, despite the loss, it will take something monumental to wipe the smile off Murillo’s ecstatic face.
Don’t change
Much like the Reds couldn’t start preparing their passports following their spike in form, they can’t afford to lick their wounds following defeat.
They aren’t in the top five for no reason. They don’t have an unbeaten away record for no reason. They don’t possess the current player and manager of the month for no reason.
Their undoubted success this year has stemmed from the positive mentality and belief that the Nuno Espírito Santo has instilled within the club, and now is no time to change.
Nico Dominguez was possibly Forest’s best player against Newcastle, with exquisite positioning and constant ball retention. He’d perhaps be the first culprit were the manager to make a change, but his displays warrant support, as do the rest of the squad.
They must remember where they came from — a side battling relegation and struggling to get over 30 points just months ago, Forest are nearly halfway to that treasured 40-point mark, and have done so by playing direct attacking football and taking pride in the art of defending.
Following that Fulham defeat, Forest went on to draw away at Chelsea before that hattrick of wins, and winning four in a row in the Premier League is a tough ask of most teams.
The Reds have proved they have it in them to overcome adversity both within and between games this season, and this moment must be no exception. Time to rest, recover and regroup after the international break, as the gruelling winter months of non-stop football that we all love loom large.
Let’s just hope Forest and Nuno don’t do so well that they curse themselves with awards again. The defeat might allow them to slip back under the radar, just how they like it.
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