TF Preview - Nottingham Forest (a), 10 May 2026

Grace signs off for the season as we prepare to take on the Tricky Trees

A few months ago, I think any Newcastle fan would’ve looked at this weekend’s game with a cautious amount of optimism. A struggling relegation side, played at a ground where we’ve had repeated successes over the years, in the middle of the ‘run-in’? Sure, this was one to look forward to.

Now, this rose-tinted image of the match has been shattered. Our form has significantly depleted, whilst Nottingham Forest are on a total bounce. Where crashing out of Europe in spectacular fashion seems to have taken the wind out of our sails, the sense of impending relegation doom has kicked Forest right into gear.

Since the start of March, Forest have not lost a single Premier League game. Three draws against Fulham, Aston Villa, and most impressively, Man City at the Etihad. Four wins against Tottenham, Burnley, them down the road and a recent surprise thumping of Chelsea last weekend.

Is it really a surprise? Forest were an exceptionally strong side last year, joining ourselves and Villa as ‘the disruptors’ to the Big Six. However, with a trigger-happy owner, their form this year suffered due to unrest with constantly changing leaders of the dressing room.

In February, Marinakas rolled the dice once again by bringing in former Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira. The Portuguese became the club’s fourth manager of the season – and certainly the most successful so far. Had Marinakas finally picked a winner or was he just lucky?

When it comes to playing against Forest, there’s always the PSR-induced elephant in the room. I’m not talking about their points deduction, but their electric midfielder Elliot Anderson. Watching him flourish in a shirt that isn’t black-and-white is enough to break the heart of the most cynical Geordie.

Although we know that he would’ve never started ahead of Sandro Tonali in our team, it still hurts to remember that Anderson misses us as much as we miss him. No one was beaming more than him during their 5-0 win over our neighbours.

I saw an amusing tweet from a Newcastle fan which said that he might just follow Anderson and support whatever team he’s playing for, like they do in American sports. Whilst I won’t be taking things that far, it had me thinking about the upcoming World Cup. This is the first tournament in my lifetime where several Newcastle players will likely be in the England squad, yet the only the name I want on the back of my shirt is only Geordie by accent…

I’m saying all of these positive things about Forest, maybe just to manage expectations that we are unlikely to just breeze straight past them, but let’s look at the last game for both teams. Forest got a 4-0 thumping from Villa in the Europa League, sending them straight back down to Earth. Meanwhile, we managed to hold onto a win against a very respectable Brighton side.

Was the football itself very good? No. Was the atmosphere jumping? Also, no. But, for the very first time in a few weeks, the eyes of the fans sparkled with the smallest glimmer of positivity. People were smiling after the match. Smiling! Not laughing the game off like normal but breathing a sigh of relief to know that not all hope for this season is lost.

Then, of course, you log on and see reams and reams of whingeing about the poor quality of the football and the win doesn’t exonerate Eddie Howe for his hefty crime of… not starting Nick Woltemade. In the eternal words of Chas and Dave, there ain’t no pleasing you.

I’m not saying there were no improvements that could be made based on the performance against Brighton, but it was certainly a step in the right direction. The powers that be seemed to agree, as it was confirmed that Howe will be staying on Tyneside for the foreseeable. This contentious topic will be debated until the man does actually leave, regardless of whether we have another successful spell, but, for now at least, we can cease with the speculation and just focus on the ‘run-in.’

I’m not predicting the line-up. You can think one thing, Howe can say another in the press conference, and then field a completely different team from that. I do know one thing: you can’t run the gimmick that you’re injured, when in reality, you’ve got one foot out the door. That’s so last year.

2-1 to us. Scrappy game methinks.

It’s been a glass half-full/half-empty season depending on how you look at it, but I’ve enjoyed writing these previews to try and make a bit of sense within all the madnesses. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them.

Grace Laidler @gracewillhuntin