3 Positives and 3 Negatives from Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0

Saturday ended Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0.

Such a dominant display and the relentless pressure eventually got its rewards, goals from Schar and Wilson giving United a deserved opening day victory.

Ahead of each match we ask one of our writers / contributors to come up with 3 positives and 3 negatives following the game, this time it is Paul Patterson.

POSITIVES

A win’s a win

First win of the season on the first day?

Can’t grumble at that.

Last season it was December before we had a win on the board and that win only took us to 10 points.

Read that back carefully. We need another seven points to equal what we had by December last season. The three points we have now is what we were STILL stuck on in October last season.

Anyone still think we’re going to struggle? Anybody doubt the job Eddie Howe has done thus far?

Wilson scoring

It’s always good to see your main goal threat get off the mark early doors and if we can maintain his fitness, I have no doubt he’ll get 15+ goals this season.

Nicely taken goal as well wasn’t it.

The need for another striker is still present but I’ll reiterate the point- It’s not all cut and dried that we MUST go out and sign one right now, this moment. Chris Wood tends to divide the room and that’s fine, he’s not liked by some and I can’t fathom out why but again I’ll say, he might not be required very often and the need for that elusive striker signing WON’T be needed this window.

That’s Entertainment

I know it was only Nottingham Forest but we really cranked up the pressure on them from the off.

Previous Newcastle sides would have come unstuck on Saturday and drew or even lost that game.

I remarked during the game that we need to beware of the sucker punch. Need not have worried.

Eddie Howe has them well disciplined and they kept plugging away without resorting to desperate hoof balls up field. That’s football. That’s Entertainment.

NEGATIVES

None.

You honestly can’t dig out any negatives from a display like that.

Alright, you could say that Miggy Almiron’s final ball wasn’t up to scratch, or bemoan the fact we didn’t score more, or maybe that it took so long to find the breakthrough, but that would be serious nit-picking in what was a great opening day win.

Another positive to see was the depth on the bench. We had options and Howe had choices at his disposal before kick off and during the game. Jamaal Lascelles was injured in the warm up, Jonjo Shelvey was unavailable from the start and we still had Martin Dubravka, Paul Dummett and Elliot Anderson unused on the bench.

£35m man Sven Botman was only given a fleeting appearance, Ryan Fraser, Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff came on. To people who think this squad isn’t good enough or hasn’t depth, I ask you, when has it had BETTER depth?

Tougher tests await and there will be slip ups and disappointments along the way this season but for now, Eddie Howe’s Black And White Army are marching on into a brand new dawn with owners, management, players and fans all United and pulling in the same direction. UNITED after the horrible negativity of the last 14 years.

In comparison, this is a GREAT and positive place to be . .

Stats from BBC Sport:

Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Saturday 6 August 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle:

Schar 58, Wilson 78

Forest:

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Forest 38% (35%) Newcastle 62% (65%)

Total shots were Forest 5 (3) Newcastle 23 (14)

Shots on target were Forest 0 (0) Newcastle 10 (6)

Corners were Forest 1 (0) Newcastle 11 (7)

Referee: Simon Hooper

Attendance:  52,245 (Forest 3,000)

Newcastle United:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett, Willock (Sean Longstaff 80), Bruno (Botman 90+3), Joelinton, Almiron (Fraser 81), Wilson (Wood 90), Saint-Maximin (Murphy 90)

Unused Subs:

Dubravka, Dummett, Ritchie, Anderson

(Eddie Howe reflects on Newcastle United beating Forest, Lascelles injury and central defender dilemma – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Instant NUFC fan / writer reaction to Saturday’s excellent victory – Read HERE)

(Alan Shearer loving Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Salutes goalscorers and ‘Fantastic’ man of the match – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 2 Nottingham Forest 0 – Dominant classy opening day for United, just look at these stats – Read HERE)