Nottinghamshire

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo had mixed feelings about his side's performance at St James' Park.

His side were "unrecognisable" in the first half as they conceded four times in the space of 11 minutes, but in the second half they looked much more like a team that has European football in their sights.

Forest netted the opening goal in a Premier League game for the 20th time this season - more than any other side - but gave themselves too much to do after the break.

"It was a big gap to to try and recover from. The reaction was very good. We gave it our all and we created a lot of chances against Newcastle and believed we could win the game," Espirito Santo told BBC Match of the Day.

"The reaction was good, I think the team was more recognisable. We played good and were positive going forward. This pleased me the most."

With back-to-back games against Arsenal and Manchester City coming up, Forest must pick themselves up and go again.

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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to Sky Sports: "First half, clearly Newcastle better. Second half was better but unfortunately not enough. Too bad, too soon.

"It's about trying to settle down, calm down and try to be ourselves. In the first half I didn't recognise our team In the second half we were much better.

"I don't know, this is what I'm going to work on now. This is a game which is good to reflect on.

"We made mistakes. Newcastle made mistakes also. But it was two totally different halves. We started well, we scored, and they just rolled over us.

"There was nothing else in the first half about us. Every time Newcastle had the ball they scored.

"I wish there was 10 minutes added on. We needed that time. We were on top, Newcastle were on the ropes. With 10 minutes I think we can get something from this game."

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Nottingham Forest have lost three of their last four Premier League games (W1), as many as in their previous 16 (W11 D2 L3).

Since the start of last season, no player has scored more Premier League goals from outside the box than Forest's Callum Hudson-Odoi (7), who has scored all four of his league goals this season from outside the penalty area.

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Two matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and we will bring you every kick.

• Newcastle v Nottingham Forest (14:00) - follow the action here

• Man City v Liverpool (16:30) - follow the action here

All kick-off times GMT

Full commentary of both games on BBC Radio 5 Live

As the BBC's predictions expert I always try to go with my head and not my heart.

That's what I am doing with this game, which is big for both teams in the battle for the top four.

I'd love to say my boyhood club, Nottingham Forest, will respond to their defeat at Fulham but this game is actually quite simple for me to predict because I am expecting Newcastle to bounce back from their woeful performance and result against Manchester City last weekend.

I just think there will be a big reaction from Alexander Isak, who was kept really quiet by City, and a real response from their whole team.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

With the Premier League likely to receive five spots in next season's Champions League, former Liverpool and England defender Stephen Warnock tells The Football News Show why this could represent the best chance for a generation for Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth to realise their unlikely European ambitions.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

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Nikola Milenkovic has said the togetherness within the Nottingham Forest squad has been a key reason for the team's successful 2024-25 campaign to date.

Milenkovic, 27, has started 24 of Forest's 25 Premier League games this season after joining from Fiorentina last summer.

Forest are third in the table with 13 games left, raising hopes of qualification for European competition next season.

"Our strength is the group," Serbia centre-back Milenkovic told BBC Radio Nottingham. "We are so solid, it's a great atmosphere and we have great chemistry in the group.

"Everyone who goes on the pitch gives 101%. Eleven players play defensively and 11 players play offensively. Everything we do, we do it together on the pitch."

Their next three league games are against Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City - all sides alongside them in the top seven.

Asked about it being an exciting time to be at Forest, Milenkovic added: "We will try to do our best for our incredible fans, who give us very big support playing home or playing away.

"They really support us, we really feel it and we will try to repay that on the pitch and make them happy."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

George Booth
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Newcastle (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Forward Taiwo Awoniyi is available to play after suffering a broken nose in the FA Cup victory over Exeter. Nuno said: "Yes, yes, it is clear on the concussion protocol. So, he is available. He will have to wear a mask, but he is a available."

• On facing Newcastle: "There is no secret in football. We face a good team and a good manager [Eddie Howe] - a manager who has good players that perform very well. We have to fight and show our talent."

• On Alexander Isak: "Very good player, but like I said, the squad of Newcastle is very strong in all the positions."

• Nuno said Forest must be better "all over the place" after being beaten 2-1 last weekend at Fulham. "We have to compete better. That's what we will be trying to do. We are reaching the moment of the season that everyone will be fighting for their own objectives," he added.

• On midfielder Elliot Anderson, who will face his old team: "He is one of our midfielders who is versatile enough to change positions. He is doing well, but I hope he performs better on Sunday. He has a long way [to go]. He is very young and he is very talented, but there are so many details to improve. You can see that he is doing well."

• On Forest's season so far: "We have competed well and this is what we expect in the final stage of the season. The games will be more difficult and we have to deal with everything that's all around - the expectations, our own beliefs and moments of the players."

• Although Nottingham Forest's strong form has slowed down, Nuno said: "I don't change my approach. We have to keep the same routine and approach it day by day - look at all the details which enable us to compete well. This is what we're focused on."

• On Forest's league position: "We are OK. We are in a good position. We are enjoying ourselves, realising every game is difficult. This is where we are. We are trying to compete till the end and do it well, but always believing that we're in a good position. We have a healthy squad and we have solutions."

For all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to Newcastle v Nottingham Forest on BBC Radio 5 Live at 14:00 on Sunday

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Former Nottingham Forest defender Brian Laws, speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast: "This season has been remarkable to say the least. It has been brilliant. It has been well deserved and it has not been a fluke.

"Now we want it to continue because we're starting to feel the vibes that there is potential for Europe."

Forest are third in the Premier League after 25 games, three points clear of reigning champions Manchester City in fourth.

On Forest's next three league games, Laws said: "They [Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City] are three daunting teams, aren't they? Normally, we would be looking at this run and thinking: 'Where are we going to get points from?'

"Actually, we are going into these three games and do we fear these teams? No. We're in a strong position."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds