Nottinghamshire

Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou speaking to BBC Match of the Day after their defeat to Newcastle: "It is always a difficult game to navigate up here with the atmosphere and the stadium. I thought for the most part we handled it pretty well. We nullified their main threats for the most part. We were always dangerous going the other way. We had some big moments we didn't capitalise on and when you don't the game gets away from you.

"The chances we did create I felt we could have executed them better. They created some chances towards the end when they opened up. It is the little moments in games that we are not capitalising on that is costing us."

On the challenge he is facing: "I knew it was a big challenge walking in. There is nothing wrong with that. I don't get why people think it is a burden but I love a challenge. The alternative is sitting at home watching the game and I don't want to do that.

"We just have to get the results now and we have two weeks to get it right. If people want to assess me three-and-a-half weeks in there is nothing I can say that will change that. What I have seen and felt in this period is that we are heading in the direction I want us to. The results will come in the meantime it is a struggle and a fight and there is nothing wrong with that. We don't want things handed on plate we have to fight for it, I have fought for things all my life."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 15 Premier League games, their joint-longest run since returning to the competition in 2022 (also 15 from Feb-May 2023).

Hear more from Postecoglou on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Forest's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

There are five games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Newcastle v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Aston Villa v Burnley - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra (after Singapore Grand Prix)

• Brentford v Man City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Nottingham Forest" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Wolves v Brighton", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Newcastle have named an unchanged side against Nottingham Forest following the club's biggest ever Champions League victory.

The Magpies beat Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 in Brussels on Wednesday night and head coach Eddie Howe has opted to name the same side as a result.

Newcastle starting XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.

Subs: Ramsdale, Schar, Lascelles, Barnes, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Miley.

Nottingham Forest have made four changes from the side who were defeated by Midtjylland.

Captain Ryan Yates, Nicolo Savona and Jair Cunha have been handed their first top-flight starts of the campaign by manager Ange Postecoglou while Chris Wood leads the line.

Nottingham Forest starting XI: Sels, Jair Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, Savona, Yates, Anderson, Williams, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Wood.

Subs: John, Murillo, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Jesus, Hutchinson, McAtee, Bakwa.

Newcastle scored four goals in Belgium in midweek - the same number as they have managed in their first six league games.

Eddie Howe's side are the joint-lowest scorers in the Premier League, along with Villa and Wolves, so getting a big win like that will be important for them.

They have lost twice at home already, but that was to Arsenal and Liverpool, and on both occasions to late goals.

Yes, the Gunners were the better team on Sunday but Newcastle had lots of chances against Liverpool so they can definitely feel a bit hard done by.

I am expecting them to get more chances here, because I think this game will be really open with both teams going for it.

I am going to go with Newcastle to be wearing their shooting boots again, and keep Ange Postecoglou waiting for his first Premier League win.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Newcastle are seeking back-to-back wins for the first time this term and face a Nottingham Forest side seemingly stuck in reverse. BBC Sport explores some key themes before Sunday's clash on Tyneside.

When Ange Postecoglou took the reins at Nottingham Forest a little over three weeks ago there were obvious questions about the logic of his appointment.

A coach wedded to high-pressing, possession-based principles was now in charge of a group drilled to sit in low blocks and counter attack under the more pragmatic Nuno Espirito Santo.

Winning over the fans was always going to take time given the popularity of his predecessor, as was the enormous shift of tactical styles. But not many would have foreseen such a poor start.

Postecoglou is the first permanent Forest manager in 100 years to go without a win in his opening six matches, with his fourth defeat coming at home to Danish side FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday.

The first European fixture at the City Ground for 29 years promised to be a joyous occasion, but after the 3-2 loss Postecoglou was subjected to chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" by the home support.

"The fans are disappointed. I heard their opinion," said Postecoglou. "I would prefer if people were optimistic in their outlook of what I'm doing. I can only change that by winning games of football."

Newcastle away is the next test for Postecoglou and his personal record at St. James' Park is two defeats from two previous visits with Spurs, including a 4-0 thrashing in April 2024. Forest's record is even worse – they've lost eight of their last nine visits to Tyneside, conceding 24 goals across in that time.

Are Newcastle clicking into gear?

Newcastle are heading into this weekend as the Premier League's joint-lowest scorers with just four goals so far. Six points from six games also represents their worst start to a season under head coach Eddie Howe.

But there is reason to believe that his side have started to click, especially if their midweek performance is anything to go by.

The Magpies recorded their biggest ever Champions League win with a 4-0 victory over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday. It was also their first away triumph in the competition for 22 years.

"Hopefully it helps us when we return to the Premier League because we've been waiting for a performance like that," said Howe after the match. "It wasn't perfect – there are things we can improve – but it was a big step in the right direction."

Anthony Gordon's brace of penalties underpinned the victory and he became the fifth player to score twice for Newcastle in a Champions League away game, following in the footsteps of three well-known forwards and a left-back.

There was also another goal for club record signing Nick Woltemade, although there were doubts about who got the final touch on Sandro Tonali's deflected effort.

The German striker has scored in his first two home Premier League appearances for Newcastle and could join an illustrious club this weekend if he can find the net again, with Les Ferdinand in 1995 and Shearer in 1996 the only players to score in their opening three at St James' Park.

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

This season should have been one of Nottingham Forest's best in modern history.

Qualification for Europe for the first time in 30 years, the best squad this century and everyone at the club pulling in the same direction.

Somehow, at least for now, that has all gone out of the window. Nuno Espirito Santo has departed, performances have been abject and last night the City Ground turned on new manager Ange Postecoglou after just six games.

Six games without a win make it the worst start for a new manager in 100 years. And yet it's very much classic Forest, a club that veers from success to self-made disaster like a learner driver who can't stay in lane.

For whatever reason, the much-heralded arrival of Edu seems to have destabilised the club. The global head of football only officially arrived in July but allegedly fell out with Nuno and, despite a successful transfer window, things have taken a turn for the worse ever since.

It might all be entirely coincidental but the lack of continuity at Forest has thrown the club into crisis. It's a perfect storm of events that mean nine games into the season, the Reds have only won one match.

That first game against Brentford - a 3-1 win - saw Nuno's team dominate possession and shots on goal. That is something Ange has also done but without the wins.

Since his appointment, the 13 goals conceded is more than any other Premier League side in all competitions.

Little wonder that some fans have already turned on him. Is it entirely of his making? Of course not. Do the players bear some responsibility? Naturally. Can he turn it around before it becomes even more toxic? With games against Newcastle, Chelsea, Porto, Bournemouth and Manchester United coming up, it's very hard to say.

But ask any fan and they'll tell you the same, it's never dull at Nottingham Forest.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Newcastle at St James' Park (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He said Thursday's Europa League defeat by Midtjylland "is still pretty raw and fresh, but it's the reality of football".

• They "have reviewed the game this morning and given feedback to the players." He denied they got a "rollicking", but said "you have to be honest" with them.

• On what is going wrong: "We're not dealing with key moments in games very well. We're creating opportunities but not being ruthless enough. It's a combination of things we need to fix."

• In response to whether he fears for the safety of his job: "I get it. It's a valid assumption in modern football as there's always a manager under pressure. It's part and parcel of the game. I don't think that way. It doesn't enter my head."

• More on the pressure: "My responsibility is making sure the team progresses and if I start putting timelines to that, or wondering what is going to happen next week, then I am not performing the role I was given."

• He said he "would be very surprised if anyone thought it would be an overnight" fix and "results to one side, there's plenty of evidence we have changed the fundamentals around how we do stuff".

• On facing Newcastle: "It's a tough game. If we can go there and get a result then it would certainly lift everybody and get the belief we can turn our current situation around. It's always a cracking atmosphere. It's an exciting fixture too, so I am looking forward to it."

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

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

You can also listen to live commentary of the game on BBC Radio Nottingham and you can hear more from Postecoglou on BBC Sounds