Champions League football remains the crucial objective for Nottingham Forest this season, and their upcoming trip to Newcastle United could significantly impact the race for the coveted European spots.
Forest suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Fulham last Saturday but held onto their third-place position in the Premier League table, with Manchester City now hot on the heels of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in fourth.
Six points behind Forest are Sunday’s opponents, Newcastle United, who will recognize that a victory against the Reds could narrow the gap on the Champions League-chasing pack to a point where no comfortable games remain.
Espirito Santo’s cautious approach is not only due to the Fulham result, as Forest also suffered a defeat against Newcastle at the City Ground in November, a game in which Anthony Taylor’s officiating received criticism from Forest fans.
With Eddie Howe being a strong admirer of Chris Wood, Espirito Santo will be hoping the Kiwi international can provide the necessary spark for the Forest squad to return to winning ways, but there are also a couple of other predictions that could materialize at St James Park on Sunday.
Chris Wood to Haunt St James Park Once More
When comparing the prolific strikers of the two teams, Wood has a higher shot conversion rate than Alexander Isak, so it will be intriguing to see the two go head-to-head. However, history suggests that Wood is unlikely to leave St James’ Park empty-handed.
Forest’s last visit to Newcastle came just days after Espirito Santo’s appointment as the club’s manager in December 2023, a match that truly ignited the Portuguese coach’s reign at the club, thanks to a hat-trick from Wood.
Morgan Gibbs-White was amazed by Wood’s performance against Newcastle, and a similar feeling could easily be replicated on Sunday as the striker looks to haunt his former club once again.
Murillo to Dominate Another Elite Premier League Striker
The Premier League is brimming with world-class talent in the striking positions, and Newcastle’s Isak is no exception.
However, Murillo has a history of strong performances against top forwards, as he was exceptional against Liverpool in January, proving he can match up with the world’s best.
Even Arsenal’s Gabriel praised Murillo’s display against Liverpool, highlighting how the footballing world is taking note of the Brazilian star, who will look to once again step up and control another elite forward to help the Forest squad secure a positive result.
Matz Sels to Show What Newcastle Are Missing
Speaking of the Liverpool game, Arne Slot praised Matz Sels’ performance in earning Forest a draw against the league leaders.
Slot hasn’t been the only manager to highlight the Belgian’s abilities, as Ange Postecogolou also hailed Sels’ display against Tottenham when Forest beat the North London club on Boxing Day.
Boasting ten Premier League clean sheets, Sels has come a long way from his less-than-fruitful spell at Newcastle between 2016 and 2018, in which he only managed 14 appearances for the then-struggling Magpies.
Sels is averaging 3.32 saves per game in the league this season, and another highlight-reel performance could be on the cards for the Belgian shot-stopper at his old stomping ground.
In conclusion, Nottingham Forest’s clash with Newcastle United presents an opportunity for the Reds to solidify their position in the race for Champions League football. With Chris Wood’s history of success against the Magpies, Murillo’s ability to stifle elite strikers, and Matz Sels’ impressive form in goal, Forest will be confident of securing a positive result that could have a significant impact on the top-four battle.
