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Season 2009/20010 - Match 12

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

1 v 0

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Post Match Comments:
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies:
"I thought we were excellent in the first half and could have been two or three goals to the good.

But Newcastle showed what a good side they are after half-time and also showed us what we have to aspire to.

Compared to them we are very much a work in progress but I am very proud of the way my players are maturing and developing.

We gave the ball away too many times in the second half and by shooting ourselves in the foot it might have cost us. We were on the back foot for too long but we showed a lot of character to hang in there and protect the lead we had earned."

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton:
"We paid the price for a poor first-half performance when they were much better than us.

I just wanted to get the players in without conceding a goal and see if we could change and improve things.

But Forest scoring just before half-time left us with a bigger challenge and although we responded to it, we just could not get the break.

We knew how difficult it would be because they have been on an excellent run but we were looking to get something.

It's not pleasant to be leaving here without something but we are still at the end of the table where we want to be."

A strike by Dexter Blackstock on the stroke of half-time gave Nottingham Forest a victory over Newcastle United at the City Ground on Saturday evening.

Forest dominated the first-half with striker Blackstock the chief threat causing the Magpies makeshift centre-half paring of Danny Simpson and Zurab Khizanishvili all sorts of trouble.

In the opening minutes Blackstock forced goalkeeper Stephen Harper into a sharp save from a header, then later he hit the post with another header, before scoring with an early shot after being put clean through.

The second-half saw Newcastle get back into the game by forcing the game into the opponents half. However, for all the pressure the away side failed to create many clear cut chances.

Newcastle lacked striking firepower with Andy Carroll and Marlon Harewood failing to combine well all night, and with the midfield's lack of natural width their forward play was disappointing.  Peter Lovenkrands was again ineffective and while Danny Guthrie showed decent technique and ability, he far too often choose to drift inside.

Kevin Nolan did have the ball in the back of the net for Newcastle but his effort was ruled out for offside with replays showing it was the correct decision.

A late chance fell to substitute Nile Ranger but the England U19 striker failed to hit the target with a header from close range.

It was a fourth successive win for Forest while Newcastle now have no wins in three and only one win in five games.

AUSSIE MAGS By Row 'S' Army