In the Boxing Day matchup, Newcastle United faced a 1-3 defeat against Nottingham Forest, with Chris Wood making a significant impact against his former manager Eddie Howe. Wood’s performance proved pivotal in securing the victory for Nottingham Forest over Newcastle United.
Certainly, here are five talking points from Newcastle United’s 3-1 Boxing Day defeat against Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park:
1. **Chris Wood’s Impact:** Chris Wood, facing his former club, played a crucial role in Nottingham Forest’s victory, scoring a brace and making a significant contribution to the team’s success.
2. **Defensive Struggles:** Newcastle United’s defense faced challenges throughout the match, conceding three goals. The team may need to address defensive issues to improve their overall performance.
3. **Boxing Day Blues:** The defeat on Boxing Day adds to Newcastle United’s recent struggles, and it highlights the need for improvements in the team’s form and results.
4. **Nottingham Forest’s Resilience:** Nottingham Forest showcased resilience and efficiency in their play, bouncing back from a winless streak with a convincing victory away from home.
5. **Managerial Considerations:** The defeat prompts discussions about managerial strategies and potential adjustments that Eddie Howe may need to make to address the team’s shortcomings and boost their chances of success in future matches.
Bruno in the middle, Botman at the back & Isak in attack
The return of Sven Botman to Newcastle United’s starting lineup marked a significant development, as he made his first Premier League start since the 8-0 victory against Sheffield United in September. Botman, the Dutch defender, had been dealing with a troublesome knee issue, but his recent involvement in the last four matches for Newcastle United indicates his recovery and return to regular on-field contributions for the team.
Sven Botman’s return to the starting lineup for Newcastle United coincided with Jamaal Lascelles being unavailable due to injury, leading to Lascelles being omitted from the squad entirely against his former club. Additionally, Alexander Isak returned to the starting lineup for the first time since the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, taking the place of Callum Wilson, who was moved to the bench for this match. The changes in the lineup highlighted the manager’s decisions to address both defensive and offensive considerations based on the available personnel and tactical considerations.
Joelinton made his return to the bench after sitting out two games due to a hamstring injury. Newcastle United’s midfield trio remained consistent with the lineup from the 1-0 defeat at Luton Town, featuring Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley, and Bruno Guimaraes.
This alignment marked the first occurrence of Newcastle fielding a lineup in accordance with the ‘Bruno in the middle’ chant in the Premier League since the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in August. It’s worth noting that this defeat against Liverpool remains Newcastle’s only home loss in the league this season leading up to the Boxing Day encounter. The consistency in the midfield trio reflects the manager’s strategic choices and the team’s effort to maintain a stable and effective lineup.
Newcastle United’s Boxing Day woes
The statistic that no professional English side has lost more matches on Boxing Day than Newcastle United is certainly not an encouraging one for the team’s fans. Heading into a crucial clash at St James’ Park, this historical record adds an extra layer of challenge and pressure for Newcastle United. Overcoming this trend and securing positive results on Boxing Day would be crucial for the team as they aim to improve their overall performance and results in future matches.
Before the Boxing Day clash, Newcastle United had a challenging record on December 26, having lost 11 of their last 14 Premier League games on that date. However, it’s worth noting that they managed to break this trend last season with a 3-0 win at Leicester City. Chris Wood, who opened the scoring for Newcastle in that match, was now on the opposite side, lining up at St James’ Park for Nottingham Forest.
Despite their poor Boxing Day record, Newcastle could find some comfort in their impressive top-flight record against Forest. Heading into the match, The Magpies were unbeaten in 10 Premier League meetings against Forest, boasting seven wins and three draws. Unfortunately, this positive run came to an end in the recent clash, thanks to Chris Wood’s contributions for Nottingham Forest.
Chris Wood comes back to haunt Newcastle
After Newcastle took a deserved lead with Alexander Isak converting a penalty, awarded after a foul on the Swedish striker by Ola Aina, Nottingham Forest showcased their counter-attacking capabilities. Anthony Elanga, in particular, seemed to be posing a threat down Newcastle’s left side, where he appeared to have the advantage over Dan Burn. Martin Dubravka, Newcastle’s goalkeeper, had to be attentive and made a couple of smart stops to deny Forest’s attempts on goal. The dynamics of the match suggested that Forest had the potential to trouble Newcastle on the counter-attack, keeping the hosts’ defense on their toes.
As Newcastle sought to extend their lead to 2-0, a lapse in decision-making from Miguel Almiron within the Forest penalty area provided an opportunity for the visitors to counter-attack. Anthony Elanga played a low ball across the goal, presenting Chris Wood with the chance to tap the ball into a virtually empty net, leveling the score at 1-1.
Heading into the second half, the match hung in the balance, and it was a matter of which team would capitalize on their opportunities. Nottingham Forest and Chris Wood seized the moment, with the striker outmaneuvering Dan Burn before delicately placing the ball into the right corner of the goal, giving Forest a 2-1 lead. This turn of events shifted the momentum in favor of the visitors.
Chris Wood continued to shine in the match, displaying a level of goal-scoring prowess that had eluded him during his time at Newcastle. The 32-year-old completed his hat-trick, beating the offside trap, rounding goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, and finding the back of the net. This stellar performance highlighted a stark contrast to Wood’s previous goal-scoring struggles while playing for Newcastle.
It was noteworthy that less than 12 months ago, Wood was deemed surplus to requirements at Newcastle, and he was now causing havoc for his former team. The situation was compounded by the fact that Newcastle had sold two partially-fit strikers without securing a third option to ease their attacking burden in recent weeks. The reflection here is that selling Wood to Forest for £15 million might not have been a mistake, but the failure to adequately replace him had significant consequences for Newcastle.
Reflecting on his triumphant return to St James’ Park, Chris Wood commented on the challenging nature of the venue, saying, “This is a tough place to come. The boys did extremely well.” Despite the competitive atmosphere, Wood expressed his appreciation for his time at Newcastle, stating, “I don’t mind where I score! It is nice coming back to Newcastle, I really enjoyed my time here, it is a great bunch of lads and staff.” Wood’s positive sentiments suggest a level of fondness for his former club, even as he played a pivotal role in securing victory for Nottingham Forest in a challenging away match.
A rare off-day at St James’ Park
Before the Boxing Day match, Newcastle’s Premier League defeats at St James’ Park under Eddie Howe had been relatively limited, primarily to strong opponents like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. The team had only suffered one home defeat in the league all season, and this impressive home form had somewhat masked their struggles on the road.
However, the match against Nottingham Forest brought their recent away troubles back to St James’ Park. Forest, ending a seven-game winless streak, emerged victorious against the faltering Magpies. This result also marked Forest’s second away win in the Premier League for the season, highlighting the challenges Newcastle faced in maintaining their home dominance and translating it to success on the road.
The defeat against Nottingham Forest marked Newcastle’s sixth loss in seven games, highlighting vulnerabilities that are now translating back onto their home turf. The fear factor that surrounded Eddie Howe’s side just a month ago seems to be quickly dissipating.
Newcastle’s remarkable record of only losing five league games throughout the entire previous season set a high standard. However, in the current campaign, each of the last four sides they’ve faced, all starting the day in the Premier League’s bottom four (AFC Bournemouth, Everton, Luton, and Nottingham Forest), have picked up three points with relative ease.
The transformation from a side that no one looked forward to facing to one that opponents now fancy their chances against is evident. With upcoming fixtures against formidable teams like Liverpool, Sunderland, Manchester City, and Aston Villa, the outlook doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. The challenging schedule ahead poses a significant test for Newcastle as they seek to reverse their recent struggles.
How do Newcastle turn things around?
As Newcastle enters the second half of the season, the big question revolves around whether Eddie Howe and his players can find answers and bounce back from their recent struggles. While Howe has demonstrated resilience and the ability to guide his team through challenging times over the past two years, the current period represents one of the toughest spells since his arrival. The team’s ability to address issues, make necessary adjustments, and regain their form will be crucial in determining their success in the remainder of the season.
Newcastle’s response to setbacks, aside from a 3-0 win against 10-man Fulham, has been limited following defeats against Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Chelsea, and Luton. Anticipating a positive response after the Forest defeat seems unlikely, especially against a Liverpool side that Eddie Howe has lost his last 11 consecutive matches against.
The recent vulnerabilities exposed in Newcastle’s performances raise questions about Howe’s ability to find solutions. With little indication that the January transfer window will be a busy one for Newcastle, the squad may need an injection of quality to rejuvenate it for the second half of the campaign. Whether this improvement comes from players returning from injury, a new signing, or intensive work on the training ground, a significant turnaround is necessary for Newcastle to navigate what feels like a season that has derailed heading into 2024.
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