Match Preview: Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest

The 7th round of the season will feature a compelling clash between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest on October 5th, taking place at the historic St. James’ Park. This forecast offers a detailed analysis, including key statistics and an overview of the teams’ current form.

Newcastle’s Season So Far

Newcastle United has experienced a challenging start to their campaign. Through six league matches, the club has managed only one victory, a narrow 1-0 triumph over Wolverhampton. Their record also includes three draws and two defeats. Last weekend, Eddie Howe’s squad suffered a loss to Arsenal, conceding two late goals, which brought an end to Newcastle’s three-match unbeaten streak in the league – a run notable for three consecutive clean sheets. A significant issue for the team is their limited scoring ability, with only four goals tallied in the , placing them among the lowest-scoring sides alongside Aston Villa and Wolverhampton. Newcastle currently sits in 15th position in the league standings. 

Key Statistics for Newcastle United

• The team has not scored more than one goal in 7 of their last 8 league fixtures.
• Their home record in this competition shows 15 consecutive matches without a draw (10 wins, 5 losses).
• Newcastle has won with a handicap of (+1.5) in their last 11 encounters.

Newcastle Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)*

Nick Pope – Valentino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Dan Burn – Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton – Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade. 

Newcastle Injury Update

Key defender Valentino Livramento, midfielder Jacob Ramsey, and forward Yoane Wissa are all unavailable for selection due to injuries.

Nottingham Forest’s Precarious Position

Nottingham Forest finds itself in an even more difficult position in the than Newcastle. The team has secured only one victory since the start of the season, with that sole success coming in the very first round. They are currently on a five-match winless run in the , having lost three of those five games. Ange Postecoglou took over as head coach in September, but under his guidance, Nottingham Forest has accumulated just one point from their last three league matches, causing them to drop to 17th place in the table. Furthermore, Postecoglou is the first Nottingham Forest manager in a century to not register a single win in his initial six matches across all competitions. 

Nottingham Forest Key Statistics

• The team has scored in 9 of their last 10 away fixtures.
• Nottingham Forest has failed to keep a clean sheet in 14 consecutive matches in this tournament.
• The club has not conceded more than one goal in 6 of their last 8 league games.

Nottingham Forest Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)*

Matz Sels – Oleksandr Zinchenko, Morato, Nikola Milenković, Neco Williams – Elliot Anderson, Nicolas Dominguez – Dylan Bakwa, James McAtee, Dan Ndoye – Chris Wood. 

Nottingham Forest Injury Update

Defenders Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ola Aina, along with midfielder Douglas Luiz, are all sidelined due to injuries.

Match Official: Peter Banks

Peter Banks (England) has been appointed as the referee for this fixture.

Referee’s Performance Statistics

Matches officiated – 28 (, 2024/25–2025/26); Yellow cards issued (including second yellows) – 111; Average yellow cards per match – 4; Red cards issued – 4; Average fouls per match – 21; Penalties awarded – 21%.

Main Prediction: Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest

This encounter features two teams characterized by their modest offensive output. Newcastle has managed to score only four goals in the to date, yet they have suffered defeat in just two of their last six matches, with losses to Liverpool and Arsenal coming from unfortunate late goals. When considering their overall performance, extending beyond the current league season, Eddie Howe’s side has avoided defeat in 12 of their last 17 matches in this competition (8 wins, 4 draws), and in 13 of those 17 games, a maximum of three goals were scored. On their home ground, Newcastle traditionally displays a formidable presence, capable of challenging almost any opponent – a fact underscored by their seven victories in their last ten home fixtures. Nottingham Forest has found the net five times in the current league campaign, with only two of those goals coming in their most recent five matches. The team has failed to secure a win in nine of their last eleven games (4 draws, 5 losses), and in nine of these eleven encounters, three or fewer goals were scored. Looking at their away record, Nottingham Forest has recorded just three wins in their last eleven league road trips (3 draws, 5 losses). Another significant factor is that the team has lost five of their last six direct confrontations against Newcastle. It is also noteworthy that the attacking effectiveness of both clubs might be influenced by fatigue, as both teams participated in European competitions earlier in the week. The final prediction for this match is – “1X and Total Under 3.5” at odds of 1.78.  * The listed starting lineup for each team reflects their formation and players from their previous match in this tournament.