Newcastle United vs Nottingham Forest: Preview and Prediction

In the Premier League’s Boxing Day lunch match, Newcastle United will try to go back to winning ways when they visit Nottingham Forest at St. James’ Park.
To put some of their recent troubles behind them and give their supporters something to rejoice about during the holiday season, Newcastle United will be anxious for a routine Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

In their most recent Premier League match, the Magpies were taken aback at Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon, falling to Luton Town 1-0. It was their third loss in their previous five Premier League games.

Their decline in shape can be ascribed to a number of things, including an abundance of injuries. But they are exhausted and broken going into this game. Just before Christmas, Eddie Howe’s team found it difficult to overcome the Hatters. As a result, they dropped to seventh place in the Premier League standings, seven points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth and final Champions League slot.

Nuno Espirito Santo, the new manager, saw Nottingham Forest battle back despite having a man down. The controversial decision left them shorthanded for nearly an hour as they proceeded. Despite scoring twice, the Tricky Trees were ultimately defeated by a hat-trick from Dominic Solanke and were unable to gain any momentum from the match at the City Ground.

With three victories, Nottingham Forest is now ranked 17th in the Premier League. They have won three, drawn five, and lost ten of their previous 18 games. They seem to be experiencing the dreaded “second season syndrome” in the Premier League, and as each week goes by, they seem more and more like a team headed for relegation. Furthermore, it’s unlikely to get any simpler to deal with an injured animal in Newcastle United

Team News & Tactics

Newcastle United

It has been a difficult period for Eddie Howe, who, amidst a tonne of big injuries, has burnt out a thin squad through his inability to rotate. And he is now paying the price as the culmination of a bad run has seen them fall to defeat against a Luton Town side embroiled in a full-blown relegation scrap.

While Joelinton (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (undisclosed), and Emil Krafth (shin) are doubtful, Sandro Tonali (suspended), Joe Willock (calf), Harvey Barnes (foot), Nick Pope (shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Javi Manquillo (groin), and Matt Targett (thigh) are still listed as absentees.

The former manager of Bournemouth will most likely make a few adjustments in an attempt to get his team to respond after their defeat at Luton. After being forced off during the first half of Newcastle’s 1-0 loss to Luton, Jamaal Lascelles should be replaced by Sven Botman. The two might continue playing together at the back now that they are both healthy for the first time in several weeks.

Left-back While Dan Burn did not do anything particularly wrong at Luton, he lacked Tino Livramento’s offensive danger and intensity. Anticipate the latter to enter this conflict. Lewis Miley was substituted out in the first half as well, but Eddie Howe made that tactical move, so the teenager should be OK.

Callum Wilson had a terrible time making an impact last weekend and lost a significant opportunity early on. He could be replaced up top by Alexander Isak since he did not hold the ball up sufficiently. Anthony Gordon didn’t appear to be at all lively and appeared to be exhausted.

With no choices for rotation, Newcastle needs the dynamic winger to get through this tough time even though he needs to recuperate. The only substitute available is veteran outcast Matt Ritchie, who will start in place of Miguel Almiron due to his one-footedness and wastefulness in the last third of the game.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Livramento; Miley, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Isak, Gordon

Nottingham Forest

Willy Boly will not be playing for Nottingham Forest in this encounter as he serves an unfair one-match suspension for showing a red card during the thrilling 3-2 loss to Bournemouth. Due to a calf issue, Serge Aurier has missed two games, and Taiwo Awoniyi is still out and won’t be back until March.

Felipe, who is still healing from a muscular ailment, might not be able to accompany head coach Nuno Espirito Santo on the trip up north. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Sangare and Serge Aurier are also hoping to make it back in time.

It seems probable that Nuno would use a practical 4-2-3-1 configuration in the match against Newcastle United. In goal, Matt Turner will receive the start. In place of Boly, Moussa Niakhate will team with Murillo at the center of the defense, with Harry Toffolo and Neco Williams on either side of him.

Alongside Orel Mangala, Ryan Yates will be an essential component in the double pivot. Callum Hudson-Odoi, who made a strong cameo off the bench against Bournemouth, may also replace Divock Origi on the flank. Lastly, Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White will line up behind Chris Wood, the target man, who scored a goal for Forest against Bournemouth the previous weekend.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Turner; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Toffolo; Mangala, Yates; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga; Wood

Key Stats

• Newcastle United are unbeaten in all 10 of their Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest (W7 D3) and have won the last five straight games by an aggregate score of 13-2.
• The Tricky Trees have lost their last seven trips to St. James’ Park since a 1-0 win in the top flight in October 1988 under Brian Clough.
• The Magpies have earned just five points from their last 27 available away from home, but they are on a run of seven league wins on the spin at home, in which they have conceded just once.
• Nottingham Forest have lost six of their past seven league encounters and last won at the start of November.
• Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last seven Boxing Day league games (D2 L4), winning 2-0 at Hull City in 2019.