The Magpies' Guimarães Adds to Ange Postecoglou's Deepening Crisis at Forest

Ange Postecoglou walked for the exit scratching his head, his eyes downcast. Following seven matches as manager and zero wins, his immediate future looked as uncertain as a fog on the Tyne.

Although the home side were far from their ferocious form, late strikes from Bruno Guimarães and Nick Woltemade—the latter a spot-kick—ultimately secured them a restorative another Premier League win this campaign.

From the start, the manager's insulated anorak swaddled him similar to a blanket, but his restless gestures suggested it offered no solace.

No jacket could protect him from the fear that his winless beginning at Forest—having arrived as the first coach in a century without a win in his opening six fixtures—would continue before a likely sacking over the upcoming pause.

However, his side performed reasonably well during a tight at the back first half.

Although Elliot Anderson at times upstaged even Sandro Tonali in midfield, showing everyone why the Newcastle boss was so hesitant to sell the homegrown talent, the defender contained the striker effectively, and Nicolò Savona caused Dan Burn problems down the home left.

Credit to Woltemade, who received minimal service to his feet or head, his team's creative department was not quite clicking.

True, it took a fine fingertip save from the Forest goalkeeper—ex- Magpies shot-stopper—to keep out Joelinton effort, and the player failed to convert a couple opportunities, but overall, Forest's defense was much improved.

Given it is only a month since the Australian succeeded Nuno Espírito Santo and games have come in quick succession, leaving precious little time to implement his theories on the training ground, all the talk of an impending sack seemed faintly ridiculous.

Or at least it did until the midfielder lifted a right-foot shot over Sels and into the top corner from just outside the area.

It left Postecoglou looking dismayed in clear despair, wearing the anguished expression of a man who had just lost his house keys.

The Forest squad complained about a possible infraction on Morgan Gibbs-White by Guimarães in the lead-up, but their appeals fell on deaf ears by the officials.

With the Italian now ascendant in midfield, the youngster was not the only away player being put in his place.

By now, Postecoglou had thrown off his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his sweater. As his team rarely looking capable of finding the net and Newcastle looking to break down their previously improved backline, he was clearly under pressure.

There was another fine stop from Sels to keep out the midfielder's driven attempt, before the following corner led to the striker's shot hitting the underside of the bar.

The keeper then made an excellent two quick stops from Malick Thiaw and Harvey Barnes before finally being beaten by a penalty by Woltemade.

That spot-kick was given when the midfielder's mistimed tackle brought the Brazilian tumbling down.

Stepping up, the Germany striker to beat Sels by lifting a rather bold penalty into the top left corner.

That marked his fourth strike for Newcastle since his seventy-million-pound move from Stuttgart in the summer, contradicting claims from senior figures at the German giants that the Magpies were “foolish” to spend so heavily for the centre-forward.

It wasn't his best game in Newcastle colors, but his skill to retain possession and use his sticky control to connect attacks is already making him a cult hero on in Newcastle.