‘We feel pressure’ - Champions League confession that impacts Newcastle United

Newcastle United supporters watched nervously as the Tricky Trees lost 2-0 to Brentford on home soil. An unexpected result, the defeat surrendered Forest’s advantage in the top-five battle.

The Magpies remain third but would have dropped a position had Forest held their nerve last night. Eddie Howe’s men will now feel the pressure levels have eased ahead of this weekend's trip to Brighton.

The Seagulls have been Newcastle’s bogey team for over a decade - with two wins over Howe and Co already this season. Rafa Benitez’s promotion-winning side in 2017 were the last team to earn an away win at Brighton.

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As for Forest, a difficult week saw them lose an FA Cup semi-final before losing ground in the tussle for Champions League football. They travel to Crystal Palace on Monday and, speaking after the Brentford setback, Nuno conceded his team are “struggling” with the demands.

“We don’t see it (pressure) but we feel it,” he said. “We felt at half-time that, after a first half that was not played well by both teams, we should go to the dressing room at 0-0, correct and go again. The explanation for that? We have to find in ourselves.

“But I don’t see (pressure), I see belief, desire and commitment. But the reality is we are struggling in some aspects of our game - focus and determination to be practical and solve the situations that are simple to solve.”

However, the Portuguese tactician backed Forest to finish the season strongly. Nuno added: “It is very important (that we finish well). We are here because we deserve to be in this run. It is a tough one. But now that we are (here), we have to give it our all.

“I’m not concerned today about what’s coming after. I’m concerned about us - how can we compete against Palace, how can we be ourselves again, how can we be dominant even when we don’t have the ball? But we don’t give chances away because we have talent and speed. This has to be, and it is my major concern.”

‘Fine margins’ - Nottingham Forest captain

Forest captain Ryan Yates tried to keep morale high following the Brentford defeat. He told Sky Sports: “Fine margins have let us down, but we're positive with four games to go. We all know it's the business end of the season.

“Through the midfield and forwards, we should have created chances to score, but we didn't. We defend and attack as a team. We have to move on to Palace.”

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