Newcastle United earned their second win of the new Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Following a boring first-half, captain Bruno Guimaraes gave the Magpies the lead near the hour-mark before Nick Woltemade secured the three points with a 84th-minute penalty.
Eddie Howe named an unchanged starting XI from Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League. That saw Dan Burn continue at left-back after Lewis Hall missed out due to a hamstring injury.
The Magpies went into the game looking for only their second win of the Premier League. Joelinton was twice denied by Matz Sels inside opening quarter of an hour but that was as good as it got in terms of first-half chances.
Newcastle were much improved after the break. Woltemade saw a certain goal blocked by Morato but the home side weren’t to be denied much longer as Guimaraes curled an effort home from 25 yards in the 58th minute.
Sels kept Forest in the game with saves from Malick Thiaw and Harvey Barnes but couldn’t keep it out Woltemade’s 84th-minute penalty.
Former Newcastle academy graduate Elliot Anderson fouled Guimaraes in the area and the German striker stepped to aim his spot-kick into the top left corner. It was Woltemade’s fourth goal in five starts following his £69million summer move to Stuttgart.
Here are our Newcastle United player ratings from the Nottingham Forest game:
1. Nick Pope - 7
Parried a Morgan Gibbs-White free-kick to safety after 20 minutes. Barely tested after that. | Getty Images
2. Kieran Trippier - 7
Set up an early chance for Joelinton before making a vital clearance at the backpost. Played some dangerous crossfield passes. | Getty Images
3. Malick Thiaw - 8
Continued his run of excellent performances. So composed on the ball, which he distributed well. Makes everything look so easy. | Getty Images
4. Sven Botman - 7
Covered well when Nottingham Forest found space down the left-hand side. Solid. | Getty Images