Not Long Now! Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest (Match Report)

Newcastle turned in a fine performance last night to see off Nottingham Forest and put themselves potentially one win away from returning to the top flight of English football. Goals from Shola Ameobi and a maiden strike from Jose Enrique gave the Magpies a much deserved win after a classy performance.

The Geordies looked like champions from the start of play, controlling the majority of the first half and having a couple of half chances courtesy of Andy Carroll. It was the troubled striker who had the best chance of the first 45 minutes when Wayne Routledge clipped a perfect pass over the Forest defence and an airborne Carroll stretched every inch of his 6 foot 4 inch frame and connected well with the volley that was well saved by Lee Camp.

Carroll should have done better moments earlier when Kevin Nolan unselfishly played the ball to the Toon top scorer but Carroll twisted and turned instead of pulling the trigger and the chance was ultimately gone by the time he scuffed a shot goalwards.

In a thrilling but somehow goalless first period, there were also two penalty shouts, one for each team. First, Polish schemer Radoslaw Majewski tried to buy a spot kick from Mike Williamson when he tumbled over the ex-Pompey defender’s knee. Premier League referee Alan Wiley made the right decision when he waved away the midfielder’s protests. At the other end, Peter Lovenkrands was put through by Nolan and felled by James Perch. At first glance it looked like a penalty but when the replays were shown it became clear that Perch had executed an inch perfect tackle, taking ball before man.

The only dampener on the first 45 for Newcastle was when Andy Carroll landed awkwardly after challenging for a ball in the air. The big striker was able to continue until the break but was subbed five minutes after the interval as the affected ankle seized up. He was replaced by fit-again Shola Ameobi.

Shola’s appearance coincided with Forest’s best spell of the match and Nathan Tyson had the best chance Billy Davies’ men created all evening when Paul Anderson crossed for Tyson but the striker could only head weakly at Steve Harper.

With 20 minutes remaining the breakthrough came, Kevin Nolan passing to Ameobi on the edge of the area and the lanky striker turned away from goal before fizzing a left foot shot beyond Lee Camp and in off the far post. The goal sent the 46,000+ SJP crowd into raptures as they sensed promotion was drawing ever nearer.

Instead of the Geordies sitting on their lead and being responsible defensively, they pushed on and looked for a second goal and nearly found it on numerous occasions. First Nolan collected a cross from Routledge and unleashed a sweet left foot shot that forced Camp into a good save at his near post.

Routledge also went close himself when he hit a rasping volley that Camp beat away. Danny Guthrie also tested the keeper with a series of free-kicks, the best of which was heading for the top corner before the Forest captain turned it away.

As the match headed into added time, Newcastle grabbed a second goal when Ameobi pulled off a cute backheel for Jose Enrique to run onto. The left-back cut inside the defender and placed a right-foot shot over Camp for his first ever goal for a club, be it in Spain or England. As the ball hit the net, the Spaniard sprinted away, ripping off his soaked shirt and disappearing beneath a pile of black and white bodies. The significance of the goal was evident from the smiles on every one of the Magpies’ players and fans alike.

It’s now just a matter of time before Newcastle return to where they belong and Saturday could be the day they do it. If Forest lose away at Bristol City and Newcastle beat Peterborough, the Geordies will be guaranteed automatic promotion, however you feel that Hughton and especially the Toon Army want to leave this league in style and win the Championship at the first attempt.

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