9/10 duo shine, 4/10 struggles – Newcastle United player ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Newcastle United secured a crucial 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, completing a dramatic second-half comeback at the City Ground. Despite going behind early in the game, Newcastle showed resilience, with goals from Alexander Isak, Joelinton, and Harvey Barnes giving them all three points. Nottingham Forest had been in strong form, sitting third in the Premier League table before the match. The hosts took the lead with a header from Murillo, but Newcastle responded well in the second half to make it three wins in a row.

In terms of individual performances, goalkeeper Nick Pope had a steady game. He made a key save early on to deny Ryan Yates and had no chance with Murillo’s goal. Although Pope’s distribution can sometimes be a weakness, he dealt well with the pressure from Forest. Right-back Tino Livramento had a strong performance despite an early blow to the face. He kept Callum Hudson-Odoi quiet for most of the match and earned praise for his defensive work. Fabian Schar was solid at the back and looked reliable as ever in possession, providing a calming presence in defence. Dan Burn, however, had a mixed performance. He was clumsy at times, picking up an early yellow card, and missed a good chance to score. He improved in the second half but was often outmuscled by Chris Wood.

On the left side, Lewis Hall had a challenging game against former Newcastle target Anthony Elanga but performed admirably, making crucial interceptions and bombing forward when possible. Sean Longstaff was steady, linking up well with Anthony Gordon on the right. He played a simple game but could add more creativity to his play. Bruno Guimaraes was tasked with keeping Morgan Gibbs-White under control and worked hard to lead the midfield. While he struggled to dominate in the first half, he nearly scored with a stunning shot and was combative throughout.

Joe Willock was one of Newcastle’s standout performers. He was energetic from the start and caused Forest problems down the left. Willock’s tireless runs from midfield made a significant impact, and his cross for Isak was an assist in waiting. Despite being withdrawn in the second half, his contribution to the game was key. Anthony Gordon had a tough first half, struggling to influence the game on the right, but improved after switching to the left wing in the second half.

Joelinton, who had been playing well recently, started on the left but moved to the right after halftime to accommodate Gordon. He once again showed his quality, bringing others into the game, and capped off a great performance with a superb curling goal to give Newcastle the lead. Alexander Isak was persistent in attack, getting his reward with a second-half goal after a quiet start to the match. Although he missed a big opportunity, Isak’s efforts were crucial to the win.

Substitute Sandro Tonali added composure to the midfield after coming on, helping Newcastle maintain control. Harvey Barnes, another substitute, made an instant impact by scoring Newcastle’s third goal. His ability to make an impact from the bench continues to impress, and he almost scored again in the final moments. William Osula came on in the final seconds but didn’t have much time to make an impact.

Overall, Newcastle showed character to fight back after going behind and deservedly took all three points, with several standout performances from players like Willock, Joelinton, and Isak. The win lifts them closer to the top of the table as they continue their strong form.