Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães Compounds Postecoglou's Growing Crisis at Forest

Ange Postecoglou headed towards the exit scratching his head, his eyes downcast. After 7 games as manager with no victories, his prospects looked as uncertain as a fog on the Tyne.

While the home side were not at their ferocious form, second-half goals from the Brazilian midfielder and the German striker—the latter from the penalty spot—ultimately secured them a restorative another Premier League win this campaign.

At kick-off, the manager's padded anorak wrapped him similar to a duvet, but his agitated gestures suggested it offered no solace.

No jacket could protect Postecoglou from the fear that his victory-less start at Forest—having arrived as the first manager in a century without a win in his first half-dozen games—would continue before a possible dismissal over the upcoming pause.

However, his side did not do too badly during a tight at the back first half.

Although the young midfielder at times upstaged even the Italian star in midfield, reminding everyone why Eddie Howe was so reluctant to sell the academy product, Nikola Milenkovic marked Woltemade effectively, and the winger caused Dan Burn problems down the home left.

Credit to Woltemade, who received little supply to his feet or head, his side's creative department lacked fluidity.

Admittedly, it took a fine fingertip save from the Forest goalkeeper—ex- Magpies shot-stopper—to deny Joelinton effort, and the player missed a couple opportunities, but generally, Forest's defense was much improved.

Given it is barely a month since Postecoglou succeeded his predecessor and games have come in quick succession, leaving precious little time to put into practice his ideas on the training ground, all the talk of an looming dismissal seemed faintly premature.

That was until the midfielder lifted a effort over Sels and into the upper net from the edge of the area.

That saw Postecoglou shaking his head in clear despair, with the pained expression of a man who had just lost his keys.

His players complained about a possible foul on Morgan Gibbs-White by the scorer in the buildup, but their protests fell on deaf ears by the referee.

As Tonali now dominant in midfield, the youngster was not the sole away player struggling to make an impact.

At this point, Postecoglou had removed his anorak and rolled up the arms of his sweater. With Forest seldom looking capable of scoring and the hosts threatening to break down their previously much-enhanced backline, he was clearly under pressure.

It took another excellent stop from the goalkeeper to keep out Tonali's volleyed attempt, before the following set-piece led to Woltemade's half-volley hitting the bottom of the crossbar.

The keeper then made an superb double save from Malick Thiaw and the winger before eventually being beaten again from the penalty spot by the German.

That spot-kick was given when the midfielder's poorly timed challenge sent Guimarães crashing to the ground.

Stepping up, the Germany striker to confound Sels by lifting a rather bold spot-kick into the upper left side.

It was Woltemade's fourth strike for the club since his seventy-million-pound move from Stuttgart in August, making a mockery of comments from officials at the German giants that Newcastle were “idiots” to pay so much for the centre-forward.

It wasn't Woltemade's finest performance in Newcastle colors, but his skill to hold the ball up and use his adhesive touch to link play is already making him a cult hero on Tyneside.

Harry Smith
Harry Smith

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter, bringing years of experience in UK media and a keen eye for detail.