Premier League news: Five takeaways from Newcastle Utd’s draw with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest secured Premier League survival on Sunday thanks to Elliot Anderson’s late leveller in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.
The Magpies, meanwhile, were left to rue yet another missed opportunity in their quest for European football.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu examines five key takeaways from a season-defining clash for both sides.
Anderson haunts boyhood club
Since departing Tyneside for Forest, Anderson has flourished into one of the best young midfielders in England, which has put him in contention for a World Cup call-up this summer.
And on Sunday, he secured Premier League safety for his new side while also damaging his boyhood club’s European hopes.
The club that sold him for £35 million back in 2023 ultimately paid the price as Anderson painfully reminded the Magpies of what they let go.
He has been a hot topic all season, with the likes of Manchester City interested in his services, so Forest may have a hard time keeping the 23-year-old.
Super-sub Barnes delivers again
Whenever Newcastle have needed a goal this season, Harvey Barnes has been there for them, and he proved that once again with a clinical finish to put the Magpies in front against Forest.
He has now scored 16 goals and recorded five assists – a good return for a player who hasn't been a regular in the starting 11.
In what has been a miserable campaign for the team, Barnes has remained a bright spot, striking twice against Man City and opening the scoring against Barcelona.
Given the 28-year-old’s ongoing exploits, the question is: Should Newcastle have tried Barnes up front instead of Anthony Gordon earlier in the season?
Magpies lack attacking quality
An issue that has plagued the Magpies all season long was on full display at the City Ground – it wasn't until the 43rd minute, when Nick Woltemade brought the ball forward, that William Osula drew a save from Forest keeper Matt Sels.
As a result, it was another forgettable first half for the Magpies, who looked decidedly flat in attacking areas.
The second half called for changes, with Jacob Ramsey, Yoane Wissa, Kieran Trippier, and Barnes coming on.
All of a sudden, the shots ramped up and Sels was under pressure.
But for all the space the Newcastle players found inside the six-yard box, nobody could find the net – Osula hit the crossbar, while Bruno Guimarães was denied twice in front of the goal.
Unsurprisingly, only Barnes could offer anything clinical for the Toon.
Indeed, along with obvious problems in defence, Newcastle’s attack simply hasn’t fired throughout the season.
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Newcastle’s European hopes fade
Forest was a game Newcastle needed to win, especially after the Magpies overcame a difficult challenge the previous week against Brighton.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Eddie Howe’s side failed to kill the match off having gone ahead, a recurring theme this season, and paid the price when Forest equalised on 88 minutes.
The result took Newcastle’s tally of points dropped from winning positions this term to 27.
There is clearly no control, no intensity, and no desire – and they find themselves deservedly adrift of the European places.
Safe Forest show character
The Tricky Trees, on the other hand, have had a more newsworthy season – four different managers, a Europa League semi-final, and Premier League survival secured with only two games to go thanks to West Ham’s loss to Arsenal.
They’ve shown real character in their fight for survival and have gone unbeaten in their last eight league games.
Forest truly looked doomed in the relegation fight at one point, but major wins against Chelsea and Sunderland, amongst other results, have seen them galvanised.
The pressure is now off Vítor Pereira’s side, and Forest can look ahead to next season with hope.
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