When you look at the fixture list for Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest, it doesn't immediately scream "historic blood feud." It’s not the Tyne-Wear derby. It’s not the East Midlands clash. But honestly, if you’ve been paying attention to the Premier League over the last two seasons, there is a distinct, low-level static electricity whenever these two walk out onto the pitch. It has become one of those games where narrative and reality collide in the most awkward ways possible.
Take the match on October 5, 2025. St James’ Park was absolutely buzzing, but for the first forty-five minutes, the football was, frankly, a bit rubbish. Newcastle looked like they’d forgotten how to pass, and Forest—now under Ange Postecoglou—were sitting so deep they were practically in the Gallowgate End. It was a classic stalemate.
Then Bruno Guimarães happened.
The Brazilian just decided he’d had enough in the 58th minute. He stole the ball from Morgan Gibbs-White, played a quick one-two with Dan Burn—yes, the 6'7" left-back—and curled a 25-yard stunner past Matz Sels. Sels, who used to play for Newcastle, could only watch. It’s that kind of poetic irony that defines this fixture lately.
The Nick Woltemade Factor
People keep talking about the price tag. When Newcastle dropped £70 million to bring Nick Woltemade over from Stuttgart, people in Germany—including some vocal folks at Bayern Munich—literally called them "idiots." That’s a lot of pressure for a young striker. But Woltemade has been doing something only Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand managed to do: scoring in each of his first three home Premier League games.
In that October 2-0 win, he was everywhere. He hit the woodwork. He linked play with a touch that looked like it belonged to a much smaller man. And when Elliot Anderson—Newcastle’s own academy product who was sold to Forest to help with PSR rules—clipped Guimarães in the box, Woltemade didn't blink. He hammered that penalty into the top corner.
It was a weirdly emotional moment. You had Anderson, a Geordie through and through, accidentally gifting a goal to the team he grew up supporting. That is the Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest experience in a nutshell. It’s messy, it’s personal, and it’s full of people playing against their old friends.
A History of No Draws
Check this out: this fixture hasn't ended in a draw in the current millennium. Not once.
You have to go all the way back to a 0-0 game in 1996 to find a shared point. Since then, it’s been 19 straight matches with a winner and a loser. That’s insane for a modern football rivalry. Whether it was the 4-3 thriller in February 2025 or the 3-1 Chris Wood hat-trick game that ruined Newcastle's Boxing Day in 2023, someone always leaves the pitch miserable.
Newcastle currently holds the upper hand. They’ve won seven of the last eight meetings. But Forest always seems to have a "gotcha" moment waiting. Remember when Chris Wood, another ex-Magpie, decided to become Prime Ronaldo for 90 minutes at St James’? Newcastle fans certainly do.
The Tactical Shift Under Postecoglou
Forest is in a strange spot right now. They’ve struggled under Ange, sitting down in 17th place after that October loss. They’re defensive. They’re compact. It’s a far cry from the "Angeball" we saw at Spurs. Against Newcastle, they tried to use Nicolò Savona to exploit Dan Burn’s lack of pace, and for a while, it actually worked. Savona even managed a cheeky nutmeg on the big man.
But Newcastle's midfield is just a different beast. Sandro Tonali is back and looks like he’s playing in the year 2030 while everyone else is in 2026. He and Guimarães simply took over the second half. Newcastle’s style is built on:
- Dominating the air (especially with Botman and Burn).
- High-intensity pressing.
- Looking for long shots when the box is crowded.
Forest, on the other hand, is leaning heavily on Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic at the back. They are desperate to stay in the league, and they play like it. It’s desperate, gritty football that occasionally breaks out into a brilliant counter-attack led by Anthony Elanga or Morgan Gibbs-White.
What to Expect Next
We are looking toward May 9, 2026. That’s the return fixture at the City Ground. By then, the stakes will be through the roof. Newcastle is currently pushing for a top-six finish, sitting around 6th or 7th in the table, while Forest will likely be fighting for their lives to avoid the drop.
If you're planning on watching or betting on the next Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest clash, keep these three things in mind:
- The "Ex-Player" Curse: Someone like Chris Wood or Elliot Anderson will almost certainly be involved in a goal. It’s a law of physics at this point.
- The First 15 Minutes: Newcastle usually tries to blow teams away early at home, but away at the City Ground, they tend to be more cautious.
- Set Pieces: Forest has been statistically weak at defending headers and corners, which is basically Newcastle’s bread and butter.
The narrative that Newcastle is just a "money team" is starting to fade as they integrate guys like Woltemade and Tonali into a cohesive system. Meanwhile, Forest needs to find an identity beyond "hanging on for dear life."
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The psychological weight of Elliot Anderson’s return to St James' was visible on his face after he conceded that penalty. It’s those human moments that make this more than just a mid-table Premier League fixture. It’s a game of reunions, regrets, and remarkably few draws.
Keep an eye on the injury reports as we head into May. If Sven Botman is fit, Forest’s aerial threat is essentially neutralized. If he’s out, Taiwo Awoniyi might have a field day. Either way, don't expect a 0-0. History literally says it won't happen.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Lineups: Always look for Elliot Anderson’s positioning; if he's played in a more advanced role, he tends to ghost into the box and cause his old team problems.
- Watch the Transfer News: Rumors are already swirling about Newcastle looking at Forest's Murillo for the summer window. A big performance from him in the next game could seal that deal.
- Monitor the Table: If Newcastle is within 3 points of a Champions League spot by May, expect them to play with a level of aggression that Forest might not be able to handle.