Newcastle maintain pressure on Postecoglou with win

Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade fired Newcastle United to victory against Nottingham Forest to maintain the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou's winless start at Nottingham Forest continued at St James' Park after his side suffered another defeat following Thursday night's loss against Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Guimaraes opened the scoring before the hour mark with a curling effort from just outside the box.

Nottingham Forest players surrounded referee Peter Bankes, having deemed Guimaraes to have fouled Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up, but the goal stood.

Newcastle, the Premier League's lowest goalscorers before this game, had struggled to find a way past Forest up until that point.

But the hosts pushed for a second and Nottingham Forest keeper Matz Sels had to be alert to tip over Sandro Tonali's cushioned volley, while record signing Woltemade lashed the ball off the underside of the crossbar from the resulting corner.

Sels also made big saves to deny Malick Thiaw and Harvey Barnes late on, before Woltemade sealed the win from the spot after Elliot Anderson brought down Guimaraes inside the box.

Postecoglou was subjected to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from Newcastle fans as the hosts recorded their second league win of the season to leave Nottingham Forest in 17th.

Newcastle analysis: Captain Guimaraes steps up

Momentum. That is what Newcastle have been desperately searching for.

Having seen his side record their biggest ever Champions League win against Union Saint-Gilloise in midweek, it was of little surprise that head coach Eddie Howe named an unchanged side on Sunday.

Newcastle did not look as dynamic at St James' Park as they did in Brussels. Nothing summed up the hosts' lack of edge in the first half quite like Joelinton firing well wide from the halfway line.

But captain Guimaraes stepped up in the second half - not only did the Brazilian put Newcastle ahead, he won the penalty to seal the victory.

Woltemade converted the spot-kick, becoming just the third Newcastle player to score in each of his first three Premier League home games for the club after Les Ferdinand in 1995 and Alan Shearer in 1996.

It sealed an important victory.

Nottingham Forest analysis: A more pragmatic Postecoglou

Postecoglou smiled as he greeted security staff and walked through the players' entrance after getting off the team bus before this game.

But, in truth, the Nottingham Forest manager has had little to be happy about of late after seeing his side concede 15 goals and fail to win any of his opening seven games in charge.

Having been subjected to taunts from a section of his own supporters on Thursday night, something had to change against Newcastle and it was rather telling that Postecoglou shook up his backline and handed captain Ryan Yates, Nicolo Savona and Jair Cunha their first Premier League starts of the season.

The Australian stressed the importance of staying switched on and making it difficult for Newcastle - and Nottingham Forest defended manfully before going behind.

Morato throwing his way in front of a shot from Woltemade inside the box to prevent a certain goal at 0-0 epitomised that defend-at-all costs mentality.

But Nottingham Forest never truly looked like getting back into this game once Guimaraes opened the scoring.

What next for these teams?

Newcastle travel to Brighton after the international break on Saturday, 18 October before facing Jose Mourinho's Benfica at St James' Park in the Champions League on Tuesday, 21 October.

Nottingham Forest host Chelsea on Saturday, 18 October before welcoming Porto to the City Ground in the Europa League on Thursday, 23 October