Nottingham Forest rallied their spirits after a deflating exit from Europe as Elliot Anderson’s late goal against his former club secured a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United at the City Ground.
Forest were clobbered 4-0 by Aston Villa on Thursday in an abrupt end to the Europa League semifinal tie they began with a promising 1-0 first leg win at home.
And they looked out-of-sorts to start this one but made it to halftime on level teams. That changed when Harvey Barnes ran onto a through ball from fellow sub Jacob Ramsey to give the Magpies a 74th-minute lead.
WATCH — Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United full match replay
But Anderson worked a 1-2 with James McAtee just before stoppage time to get a point for Forest.
Newcastle had more of the ball and led in xG but were out-attempted 17-16 in what was an entertaining, back-and-forth game.
The Magpies’ 46 points have them 13th and they can no longer be relegated — though the odds of that were always long. Forest’s 43 points are good for 15th and they’ll be safe if West Ham drop points versus Arsenal. They’re safe in all likelihood anyway.
Eddie Howe will reportedly remain in the Newcastle job last season and he may well be overseeing another overhaul whether he likes it or not. Howe chose not to play Anthony Elanga, the expensive signing from Nottingham Forest, against his former club, yanked Nick Woltemade after using him in the midfield, plugged in disappointing purchase Yoane Wissa, and then saw two other subs — Jacob Ramsey and Harvey Barnes — combine for the opener.
He must be feeling confused as essentially every player in front of his center backs and center midfielders have failed to find consistency. And will those stars stay? Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are beloved on Tyneside but face a Europe-free season next year in the prime of their careers. Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw should stay, sure, but so many others are question marks. Lewis Hall and the injured Valentino Livramento have been linked with Big-six interest, while Woltemade starts at center forward for Germany but cannot get regular starts for Newcastle. He may want to leave, and Elanga may too if Howe indeed stays at St. James’ Park.
Huge changes are coming one way or another. Either Howe goes and the club replaces a club legend or maybe a dozen players will question their futures at Newcastle. Fun.
Forest go to Manchester United at 7:30am ET Sunday, then host Bournemouth on the final day of the season.
The Magpies host West Ham on at 12;30pm Sunday before visiting Fulham in Week 38.
Goal scorers: Harvey Barnes 74', Elliot Anderson 88'
More points dropped from a leading position for Eddie Howe’s men in what remains a mess.
Forest get a point that may well have them safe by the end of the weekend.
Sold by Newcastle for PSR reasons, the ex-Magpie comes back to hurt his boyhood team.
Anderson works a 1-2 with James McAtee and belts into the upper reaches of the goal as Nick Pope isn’t able to get his arm to it.
1-1, 88'.
The Magpies had worked Sels and now they’ve solved him.
Newcastle had made three subs in the second half and two combine on this.
Jacob Ramsey sends Barnes in behind the back line and the Englishman holds off Morato’s physical challenge to beat Sels.
GOAL!!! Harvey Barnes off the bench for the Magpies 🚨 🚨 🚨
— USA Sports (@usasports) May 10, 2026
🔴 Nottingham Forest: 0
⚪️ Newcastle: 1
⏱️ 73’ pic.twitter.com/gZqbYBekdM
Dominguez is no quiet figure but he’ll be replaced by combustible midfielder Ryan Yates at the break.
This could get quite loud in the midfield with Tonali, Guimaraes, Anderson, and Yates! Joelinton’s there too.
The Tricky Trees found their footing after a timeout (goalkeeper tactical injury).
But it’s Newcastle who will feel they were better over 45 minutes.
Forest have an edge in shot attempts but Newcastle have had more of the ball and xG.
Newcastle have 13 touches in the Forest box compared to five the other way.
Woltemade cues up William Osula on the right of the box but the Dane takes a touch rather than first-time it with his left and that allows Sels to make a desperation leg block.
These teams have many familiar faces, as Sels, Chris Wood, and Elliot Anderson played for Newcastle and Anthony Elanga starred with Forest lasr season. Wood and Elanga are not on the field, of course.
Dilane Bakwa has been very good.
His left-footed cross is haphazardly blocked by Nick Pope and there’s a juicy rebound.
His stop of that is a good one as he gets big to make sure he blocks the opportunity.
0-0, 36'.
Out of nothing, Forest go the other way and Dilane Bakwa creates a half-yard to curls a left-footed shot toward goal.
It might be going wide but Lewis Hall makes sure it does, and Forest’s ensuing corner is collected by Nick Pope on the goal line.
It’s a fun lineup for Newcastle, using both Dan Burn and Lewis Hall while Nick Woltemade comes into the lineup.
Nick Woltemade and Sandro Tonali have whipped in dangerous passes from the right and Joelinton and Willam Osula have found half-chances.
0-0, 11'
Starting XI: Sels, Cunha, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Netz, Bakwa, Jesus, Awoniyi
Subs: Ortega, da Silva Moreira, Whitehall, McAtee, Wood, Sinclair, Lucca, Hutchinson
Starting XI: Pope, Burn, Botman, Thiaw, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Woltemade, J. Murphy, Osula
Subs: Ramsdale, A. Murphy, Trippier, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes, Wissa
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday
Venue: City Ground — West Bridgford
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on USA
