Premier League news: Newcastle Utd vs Nottingham Forest – Five key battles and score prediction

Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest travel to St James’ Park on Sunday for a clash against Newcastle United, with both teams in hot pursuit of Champions League football.

After dismal defeats to Bournemouth and Fulham in their last two home outings, the Magpies can ill afford to lose a third on the bounce as they go in search of a positive end to the season.

Forest, meanwhile, will relish the opportunity to maintain third place on the Premier League table and moreover have a great away record despite losing their last two, managing seven wins in 13 matches.

Sports News Blitz writer Joseph Hannen looks at five key battles to anticipate and offers a score prediction.

Eddie Howe vs Nuno Espirito Santo

The managers have a relatively even head-to-head record, with three wins for Eddie Howe and four for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nuno joined Forest in December 2023 and quickly proved his managerial qualities with a 3-1 Boxing Day beatdown of Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Howe, it must be said, is likely to have one eye on next month's Carabao Cup final, although that would be no excuse for a dip in league form.

These are the kinds of fixtures where Newcastle must show the intensity and character befitting of their lofty Champions League ambitions.

In the reverse fixture this season, Howe outplayed Nuno at his own game in a 3-1 win as a second-half counter-attacking masterclass overcame Forest’s halftime lead.

Since then, Nuno has switched to a back-five system, which proved particularly successful in their 7-0 demolition of Brighton earlier this month.

With Forest looking to exploit Newcastle on the break, that system should continue on Sunday.

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Dan Burn vs Chris Wood

In 2023, Chris Wood returned to his previous home with a stellar hat-trick, despite having scored just once in 20 home matches in black and white.

This term, a 17-goal haul sees Wood fourth in the Premier League Golden Boot race, and it feels somewhat inevitable that he will add to that tally on Sunday.

Newcastle’s star defender Sven Botman remains a doubt, unfortunately, leaving Dan Burn to keep the Kiwi star quiet.

Wood dominated that battle last season, turning Burn inside out multiple times on his way to the aforementioned hat-trick.

Interestingly, the striker has only accumulated 10.39 xG over the current campaign, proving that he does not require a handful of chances to punish opponents.

Burn, to be fair, has had a solid start to the season but will be looking over his shoulder when Botman returns to full fitness.

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Sandro Tonali vs Morgan Gibbs-White

Sandro Tonali will be tasked with keeping Forest’s most creative outlet, Morgan Gibbs-White, quiet come the weekend.

The Italian international has recorded 106 recoveries, 22 interceptions, and a 61.8% tackle percentage.

Last week was a poor showing for Tonali, however, as he was unable to establish any control whatsoever in Newcastle’s 4-0 embarrassment at the hands of Manchester City.

Gibbs-White, on the other hand, has bagged five goals and five assists so far this season, receiving his first senior England cap last September.

The 25-year-old was signed from Wolves for £42.5 million in 2022 and has been essential to Forest remaining – and then flourishing – in the Premier League.

He also holds the joint-most key passes per game (1.6) and Man of the Match awards (3) within the Forest squad.

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Anthony Gordon vs Ola Aina

Anthony Gordon will be eager to add to his six league goals this season, a rather underwhelming figure considering his brilliant form since December.

Similarly to Gibbs-White, the electric winger holds the most key passes per game (2) in the Newcastle team and is the second-most fouled player in the entire league with 52.

Come Sunday, he will be up against Ola Aina, who is having a standout season.

The Nigerian has contributed to nine of Forest’s 10 clean sheets and has also chipped in with two goals.

His energy down the right makes him especially well-suited to the wing-back role, which Nuno has recently switched to using.

Aina joined Forest on a free transfer in 2023 and has previously represented England at youth level before switching national allegiance in 2017.

The 28-year-old will be tasked with keeping Gordon quiet as well as providing an attacking threat down the right.

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Bruno Guimaraes vs Elliot Anderson

Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes has reaped the benefits of a more advanced midfield position this campaign, contributing two goals and six assists.

The Brazilian star is the most fouled player in the league by a country mile with 83 thanks to a hugely underrated part of his game being to keep the ball and take pressure off his teammates.

An ever-present in midfield over the last few seasons, Bruno will make his 140th appearance on Tyneside this weekend.

Duelling him in midfield will be former Magpie Elliot Anderson.

Nicknamed the Geordie Maradona, Anderson was sold by Newcastle last summer in a desperate attempt to meet Profitability & Sustainability Rules (PSR) rules.

It was a sale that Howe was devastated to have to make, and now Forest have a genuine gem of a midfielder on their hands.

In tackles won (66.1%), duels won (57.5%), and aerial duels won (68.4%), Anderson currently ranks highly among all Premier League players.

Typically a midfielder who can do a bit of everything, he bagged his first Premier League goal against Southampton last month.

Anderson is expected to receive a warm reception from the home faithful, who still remember him fondly.

Summary

This is a match that has the potential to swing either way given so much is on the line.

Newcastle, fresh off back-to-back home league defeats, simply have no choice but to get back on track.

Forest, though, have lost their last two games away from home to the combined tune of 7-1.

I predict the match will remain in the balance throughout and eventually end level.

Score prediction: Newcastle United 1-1 Nottingham Forest

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