European hopes over as Toon blow it again - Forest 1-1 Newcastle
More points dropped from a winning position for Newcastle United as Eddie Howe's Mags leave Nottingham Forest with a frustrating 1-1 draw.
After a first half featuring few openings, Harvey Barnes opened the deadlock on 74 minutes with what should've been the winner, only for ex-Mag Elliot Anderson to level things up just three minutes from time.
The story of our season, sadly. Lacking spark in the final third for much of it, then unable to show the resilience needed to see out the win, taking us to 27 points dropped from winning positions: a Premier League high for all the wrong reasons and just four shy of the record (31).
A result that ends any hopes of a late push for Europe, keeping us 13th in the table, two behind Sunderland, unable to catch Brighton (7th) or Bournemouth (6th) and five behind Brentford (8th) with only two games left to play.
Forest 1-1 Newcastle: Match report
Howe made two changes from our 3-1 win over Brighton last Saturday. Lewis Hall replaced Lewis Miley at right-back, and Nick Woltemade took Joe Willock's place in the side, starting just off Will Osula in a switch that saw Joelinton move over to the left.
Newcastle XI: Pope - Thiaw, Botman, Burn - Murphy, Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton, Hall - Woltemade, Osula.
Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Wissa, Gordon, Barnes, Elanga, Willock, A.Murphy, Ramsey.
The first half hour featured some good, some bad, and some bang average. Hall looked sharp at right-back, having more touches than any other player after 30 minutes, Joelinton was all action, winning the ball back and moving it forward quickly, and we had decent control of the game, enjoying over 60% possession.
However, despite plenty of the ball and a few promising patterns of play, we weren't really threatening. No shot on target, Woltemade was too slow and cheap in possession in that free role behind Osula, and Murphy was woeful, making a mess of so many simple passes or crosses into the box.
Forest grew into it before the break and forced Pope into the first big save of the match, stopping Jair Cunha's close-range effort after flapping at the initial cross. At the other end, we finally mustered our first shot on target, and it should've been the opener. Woltemade drove forward well and fed Osula, but the in-form Dane fired straight at Sels, seeing us head into the break level.
The second half opened with a few key saves from Pope, who did well to block Awoniyi's low shot with his feet before a flurry of nearly moments came our way as the game opened up heading into the final 30 minutes.
Howe brought on Harvey Barnes and Jacob Ramsey for Jacob Murphy and Nick Woltemade before Bruno's shot almost trickled past Sels and over the line. Osula was then next to go close, as his free kick cracked the crossbar.
Yoane Wissa came on with 20 minutes to play, replacing the all-action Osula, and we soon broke the deadlock. Seconds after Botman's huge block to deny Hutchinson, Bruno found Ramsey and his perfectly weighted pass put Barnes clean through. The former Leicester man held off his man, steadied himself and fired past Sels for his seventh league goal of the season and 16th in all competitions, sparking brilliant celebrations in front of the away end.
1-0 Newcastle with 15 minutes to play, although we were dealt a late injury worry as Hall thankfully recovered following a heavy challenge from Williams. After a whack from Jesus moments earlier, he'd been in the wars today and soldiered on well at right-back.
It was at this stage that we were 0-1 up at Palace and collapsed to a 2-1 defeat, and we still had defending to do heading into the last 10. Pope made another solid stop to deny Jesus, then Botman, who was rock solid at centre-back, arrived with another vital intervention in the box.
Then, with 87 minutes on the clock, it just had to be him. Academy product and PSR casualty Elliot Anderson burst into the box, nipped in ahead of Hall, and fired past Pope to make it 1-1. Another late goal conceded and one that almost certainly ends our chances of stealing a spot in Europe.
Anthony Gordon sat on the bench for the second game running, which felt telling once again.
Next up, our last home game of the season against West Ham next Sunday, before our final-day trip to Fulham two weeks today.
Keep the faith. HWTL.
