Elliot Anderson is the “Geordie Maradona” valued at over £100m and a crucial goal here could be one of his final contributions for Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City are leading the chase to sign the England international this summer and it was Anderson’s fine 88th-minute equaliser against his old club that helped secure Premier League safety for Forest after West Ham United’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal later in the day.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe will always reflect on the sale of Anderson two years ago with great sadness, as his club desperately battled to avoid a points deduction for breaching financial rules.
Forest took full advantage of Newcastle’s weak position by completing a deal worth around £15m for the academy graduate schooled at the renowned Wallsend Boys Club.
Anderson now has a price tag in excess of £100m and is an established England international who appears certain to start for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup next month.
City are understood to be increasingly confident of beating rivals Manchester United to sign the 23-year-old this summer.
The midfielder’s goal was brilliantly taken to rescue Forest a point, in what could be his penultimate appearance at the City Ground in a red shirt.
It has been a difficult few weeks for Anderson off the field, too, with the recent passing of his mother, but he has continued to perform impressively on it.
Howe admitted afterwards that Anderson’s sale to Forest in July 2024 will always be one of his biggest regrets as Newcastle manager.
“We knew that would be a very painful transfer but one that we had to do,” he said. “We had no choice, but it was probably the most reluctant transfer I’ll ever do, because we knew the quality of the player.
“It really hurts to see him do that against us today, he’s going to go and have a fantastic career, wherever he goes, wherever his career takes him. He’s a great lad as well, so it’s painful for us to take but he’s an outstanding player.”
While Anderson was the standout performer, Forest were severely depleted without the injured Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Ibrahim Sangaré, Ola Aina and Dan Ndoye, while Callum Hudson-Odoi has already been ruled out for the season.
Their European dreams were also ended on Thursday night when they were thrashed 4-0 by Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-final second leg.
Vítor Pereira, Forest’s head coach, said: “What a week, physically and mentally it has been very tough. This is a very special group and Elliot has honoured his mother by going on the pitch and running to the last minute.
“He is our player and we need to enjoy him. I’ve worked with talented players before but to find one with his character is not easy.”
For Newcastle, this was a familiar story for Howe and a microcosm of their difficult season.
Throwing away points from winning positions has been a recurring theme while they have also lacked a cutting edge for much of the campaign.
Only Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sunderland and Fulham have scored less goals than Newcastle on their travels this season (17) and Howe’s team have failed to take their chances on many occasions.
It was another disappointing afternoon for Nick Woltemade, who looked uncomfortable until he was replaced by Jacob Ramsey just after the hour.
Another busy summer of recruitment appears inevitable, though sales will be required to fund major signings. Anthony Gordon is a target for Bayern Munich and did not even come off the bench.
Howe said: “I think it’s our duty is now to try and look to the future and see what the new team is going to look like next year. That’s been clear with some of the decisions that I’ve made with the team, because we want to see some players. We want to see how they’re going to grow into the team.”
Howe’s attacking changes provided his team with far more impetus and substitute Harvey Barnes put them ahead in the 74th minute.
Newcastle had been threatening to score before the opening goal. Bruno Guimarães was denied twice by Matz Sels within a minute while William Osula struck the crossbar with a free-kick from 20 yards out.
It was a moment from Ramsey in the 74th minute which proved vital. The £40m signing’s sublime pass from just inside the Forest half released Barnes and caught out Morato, with the winger lifting his shot over Sels.
Forest did appear to be running on empty but the equaliser came two minutes from the end.
Anderson exchanged passes with substitute James McAtee to advance into the penalty area and crash his shot into the corner, preventing a second successive victory for Howe.
At the end, Anderson had the rare feeling of being serenaded by both sets of supporters as he left the field.
Thanks and goodbye
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That’s all for today but don’t forget to join Alex Connor for a huge game at the London Stadium: West Ham v Arsenal. Bye!
Elliot Anderson’s reaction
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The point could be massive. It’s a good point considering we weren’t at our best today.
The subs brought some energy - Macca [James McAtee] with a great assist for me. It was tough in the heat, everyone seemed really tired. But we finished well.
[On the goal] There have been a few things going on recently, so it felt really nice.
Premier League results
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- Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa
- Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton
- Nottm Forest 1-1 Newcastle
And you can join Alex Connor for all the team news ahead of West Ham v Arsenal.
FT: Nottm Forest 1 Newcastle 1
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An honourable draw at the City Ground. It wasn’t a classic, but the second half was a fair improvement on the first and the two goals were excellent.
The substitute Harvey Barnes finished off a slick move to put Newcastle ahead. The former Newcastle midfielder Elliot Anderson took matters into his own hands to score a dynamic late equaliser.
The draw takes Forest to 43 points. They’re not safe yet - but they will be, realistically, unless West Ham beat Arsenal.
90+5 min: Forest 1 Newcastle 1
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Newcastle substitution Kieran Trippier comes on for Bruno Guimaraes.
90+4 min: Forest 1 Newcastle 1
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Yates has a shot blocked after some decent hold-up play on the edge of the area from the substitute Lucca. Forest have a spring in their step for the first time all afternoon.
90+1 min: Forest 1 Newcastle 1
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Joelinton shoots over from distance. Both teams still fancy their chances of winning this.
There will be seven added minutes.
89 min: Forest 1 Newcastle 1
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Anderson fell straight on his back after scoring, grimacing with cramp. When he eventually got to his feet, he looked to the heavens and paid tribute to his late mother Helen.
Goal!
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88 min: Nottm Forest 1 Newcastle (Anderson) Elliot Anderson scores a superb equaliser against his old club - and gives himself cramp in the process! He fed a short pass into the substitute McAtee on the left side of the area, took the return ball in his stride and forced an early shot across Nick Pope with his left foot. A real carpe diem goal from Anderson. It was vital that he took the shot so early because Hall was a split-second away from making a challenge.
84 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 1
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Wissa can’t quite control a penetrative angled pass from Guimaraes, though in his defence it was slightly behind him. A better pass/surer touch would have been put him through on goal.
83 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 1
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Double substitution for Forest Lorenzo Lucca and James McAtee replace Igor Jesus and Luca Netz.
82 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 1
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If it stays like this Newcastle will be three points behind eighth-placed Brentford. European qualification is complicated, but whoever finishes eighth could end up in the Conference League.
80 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 1
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Igor Jesus tries a toepoke from the edge of the area that is comfortably saved to his left by Pope.
78 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 1
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Hall needs treatment after a clash of legs with Williams, who won the ball with a well-judged sliding tackle but then followed through into Hall.
77 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 1
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In other news, Jean-Philippe Mateta has made it Crystal Palace 2 Everton 2 at Selhurst Park.
Goal!
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74 min: Nottm Forest 0 Newcastle 1 (Barnes) The substitute Harvey Barnes breaks the deadlock with an excellent goal! Guimaraes flicked a good pass forward to Jacob Ramsey, who controlled it on the half turn and cut Forest open with a perfect through ball. Barnes timed his run perfectly and finished coolly over the outrushing Sels.
74 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Chris Wood replaces Taiwo Awoniyi in the Forest attack.
72 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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A stinging shot from Joelinton is straight at Sels, who pushes it away. Forest break and Hutchinson’s shot is very well blocked by the sliding Burn.
There was also a VAR check for a potential Newcastle penalty when the ball hit the arm of Morato in the area. He was only a couple of yards away from the Newcastle player and the handball threshold is a bit higher in the Premier League.
71 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Newcastle substitution Yoane Wissa replaces Will Osula.
70 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Newcastle have quietly dominated the second half and look the likelier winners at this point. Yoane Wissa is about to come on for them.
67 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Osula hits the bar! A curling free-kick from Will Osula hits the top of the crossbar with Sels scrambling desperately across goal.
Replays show Osula’s shot took a deflection off the wall, hence the dip onto the bar.
65 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Two more goals to report from Turf Moor. Ollie Watkins put Villa 2-1 up, but Zian Flemming’s tenth Premier League goal of the season has brought Burnley level.
64 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Forest substitution Omari Hutchinson replaces Dilane Bakwa, who was good in the first half but struggled to get going after the break.
62 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Two chances in 15 seconds for Bruno Guimaraes! The first was half stopped by Sels and then kicked off the line by Morato; the second was superbly saved by Sels, diving low to his right.
61 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Double substitution for Newcastle Harvey Barnes and Jacob Ramsey come on for Nick Woltemade and Jacob Murphy.
58 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Morato clips a long ball forward that is allowed to bounce just outside the area by Botman. Awoniyi throws him out of the way and hits a shot that deflects off Thiaw before being kicked away by Pope. Good save.
57 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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55 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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The Forest substitute Ryan Yates is booked after catching Osula on the achilles. It was only a glancing blow, hence the yellow card rather than red.
The resulting free-kick is half cleared to Tonali, whose shot from 25 yards is headed away by Morato.
51 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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The resulting free-kick is 30 yards from goal. Guimaraes decides to have a pop and drives it a few yards wise; Sels had it covered.
Premier League latest scores
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- Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa
- Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton
- Nottm Forest 0-0 Newcastle
- West Ham v Arsenal (4.30pm)
49 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Igor Jesus is booked for flattening Lewis Hall, who got to a bouncing ball a split-second before his opponent.
48 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Beto has restored Everton’s lead at Selhurst Park. They are 2-1 ahead early in the second half.
46 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Back under way at the City Ground, where Forest have brought on Ryan Yates for Nicolas Dominguez.
Igor Jesus has a snapshot saved by Pope after 26 seconds. The angle was extremely tight and Pope blocked the shot at the near post.
Half-time verdict
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That first-half was scrappy and low on entertainment. Only Wolves and Sunderland (14) have scored less goals than Newcastle on their travels this season and Eddie Howe’s team have had no cutting edge so far.
Forest had scored three goals or more in their previous three games but the absence of so many attacking players has clearly had an effect. Taiwo Awoniyi is alone up front and Forest are relying on quick breaks to try and score that elusive goal.
Premier League half-times
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- Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa
- Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton
- Nottm Forest 0-0 Newcastle
HT: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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A forgettable first half at the City Ground. Newcastle were the better team until Vitor Pereira switched to a back four; Forest were on top after that.
Matz Sels and Nick Pope made one good save apiece, and Dilane Bakwa looked lively in attack for Forest, but apart from that there wasn’t much to report.
45 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Netz finds Awoniyi in a bit of space on the left side of the area. Awoniyi’s first touch is poor, though, and he is forced wide.
Two minutes of added time.
43 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Good save by Sels! Woltemade runs 60 yards with the ball, all the way to the edge of the D, before playing in Osula to his right. He cracks a low shot that is blocked by the outrushing Sels. That’s the best chance of the game so far.
In other news, Ross Barkley has equalised for Aston Villa at Burnley.
39 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Forest continue to look so much better since Vitor Pereira switched to a back four. Bakwa has been their main attacking threat and is causing Dan Burn plenty of problems.
36 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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A second goal at Selhurst Park, where Ismaila Sarr has equalised for Crystal Palace against Everton.
34 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Bakwa’s early cross from the right is fumbled by the unsighted Pope, but he recovers excellently to save Jair Cunha’s follow-up shot.
33 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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A lovely run from Bakwa, who beats Burn on the outside in the penalty area and hammers a cutback into the six-yard box. Awoniyi fresh-airs a volley at the near post - it came at an awkward height - and Newcastle smuggle the ball to safety.
30 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Forest have had more of the ball since that tactical change. Still no real chances for either team though; it hasn’t been a classic.
27 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Woltemade makes a good late run into the area but can’t control a sharp, slightly awkward pass from Guimaraes. Had he done so, he would have had a clear shot at goal.
24 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Vitor Pereira used that Sels injury to switch to a back four, with Williams moving to left-back and Jair Cunha to the right.
24 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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An injury to Matz Sels allows the teams to take a drinks break. Sels is okay to continue.
23 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Anderson tries to bit the hand that used to feed him with a long-range drive. On this occasion it goes well wide.
Premier League latest scores
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- Burnley 1-0 Aston Villa
- Crystal Palace 0-1 Everton
- Nottm Forest 0-0 Newcastle
18 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Dilane Bakwa has made an impressive start for Forest, continuing his recent improvement from the win at Chelsea.
Signed for an initial £30m from Strasbourg last summer, there were high hopes for the winger but it has been a slow-burner of a debut season.
Forest’s recruitment team still believe he will prove a shrewd signing over the next few years.
17 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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A good counter-attack from Forest. Bakwa twists Burn one way and then the other in the penalty area before curling a shot across goal that brushes the head of Hall and goes behind for a corner.
The resulting corner is headed into the six-yard box by Igor Jesus and held comfortably by Pope.
13 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Newcastle are well on top at the moment. After a sustained attack, Tonali pokes a tame shot from the right side of the area that is saved comfortably by Sels.
11 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Newcastle’s travelling fans have just serenaded former midfielder Elliot Anderson with a chant of ‘Geordie Maradona’.
It is the sale which really hurt. Forced to raise money to avoid a points deduction, Newcastle had no option but to agree a deal worth £15m for the homegrown star, with goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos moving to Tyneside as part of the transfer.
Anderson is now worth over £100m and seems nailed on to start for England at the World Cup.
10 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Tonali curls an excellent cross to the far post, where Osula gets in front of Williams but slices a volley well wide. Tough chance.
9 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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Newcastle are having most of the ball, with Forest looking to play on the break.
There has also been a goal at Turf Moor: Jaidon Anthony has made it Burnley 1 Aston Villa 0.
6 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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There’s been an early goal at Selhurst Park, where James Tarkowski has volleyed Everton ahead against Crystal Palace.
4 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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A dangerous first-time cross from Murphy just evades the stretching Osula in the six-yard box. Newcastle have started well.
3 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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The last time Forest faced Newcastle, Ange Postecoglou was in the technical area.
Postecoglou was already fighting for his job at that point, and he went one match later after defeat by Chelsea.
Quite a lot has happened at the City Ground since then.
1 min: Forest 0 Newcastle 0
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The match is under way on a sunny afternoon in Nottingham. Newcastle have started with Lewis Hall at right-back in a 4-3-3 formation.
Sharp shooter
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Eddie Howe’s pre-match thoughts
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[On the inclusion of Nick Woltemade] Nick has trained well and we think this could be a game that suits his qualities. Excited to see him back in the team.
It was an important win [against Brighton last weekend], we knew we needed it. But the biggest thing for us is that we try to back it up and find the consistency that has eluded us all season.
Forest are on a really good run in the Premier League and we know we’ll need to be very good today.
Today’s Premier League fixtures
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There are a couple of other Premier League games kicking off at 2pm: Burnley v Aston Villa and Crystal Palace v Everton.
We’ll have goalflashes from those matches during Forest v Newcastle. Then we’ll have a separate live blog for the huge game between West Ham and Arsenal.
Forest must improve abysmal record against Newcastle
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Nottingham Forest’s record against Newcastle is atrocious.
Nine defeats from the last ten encounters will not fill their supporters with hope as the club targets taking a step closer to survival.
Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Ibrahim Sangare and Ola Aina are all absent, while Callum Hudson-Odoi is already out for the season.
Yet a victory here, and a West Ham defeat by Arsenal, will be enough to secure Premier League safety.
Newcastle want a new goalkeeper and this is their shortlist
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By Luke Edwards
Newcastle United will make signing a new goalkeeper one of their first priorities this summer after identifying the position as a weakness.
Telegraph Sport understands a shortlist has been drawn up and three names – Brighton and Hove Albion’s Bart Verbruggen, Lens’ Robin Risser and Manchester City’s James Trafford – have figured prominently in early recruitment meetings. There are others on the list and Newcastle are determined to assess all their options before making a move.
Vitor Pereira’s pre-match thoughts
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Now it’s time to forget about the last game and focus on today.
[On switching to a back three] It’s important to have organisation, but our idea is still to win the game.
We have a lot of injuries, but in the end we start with eleven. We have the spirit: let’s go.
Friends reunited
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Newcastle have endured a difficult season under Eddie Howe and if they lose here, Forest will actually go above them in the table on goal difference.
This game has a real Friends Reunited vibe: former Newcastle midfielder Elliot Anderson starts for Forest while Anthony Elanga, signed by Howe for £55m in July, is on the bench. Matz Sels, the Forest goalkeeper, also had a short spell on Tyneside.
Ross Wilson, Forest’s former chief football officer, also returns to the City Ground for the first time after taking a similar role at Newcastle.
Newcastle team news
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Lewis Hall and Nick Woltemade replace Joe Willock and the injured Lewis Miley in the Newcastle team. That could mean a switch to a back three with Hall and Jacob Murphy playing as wing-backs.
Nottingham Forest team news
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Vitor Pereira makes four changes to the team that was well beaten at Villa Park. Matz Sels, Taiwo Awoniyi, Dilane Bakwa and Luca Netz replace Stefan Ortega, Chris Wood, Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee. Awoniyi scored twice in Forest’s brilliant win at Stamford Bridge last Monday.
Morgan Gibbs-White is not in the squad.
Good afternoon
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In the last two Premier League seasons, 30 points would have been enough to avoid relegation. This year, even 40 may be insufficient. Nottingham Forest are one of England’s form teams and sit on 42 points with three games to play – but they still need three more points to be sure of survival.
Forest have a vastly superior goal difference to West Ham, who could potentially reach 45 points. That may change after West Ham face Arsenal later today. All Forest can do is control the controllables: if they win at home to Newcastle, they will effectively – if not mathematically – be safe.
Forest’s brilliant start under Vitor Pereira came to a juddering halt at Villa Park on Thursday, when they were thrashed by Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-final second leg. “It’s difficult today but tomorrow is another day,” said Pereira in his pre-match press conference. “We need to compete against Newcastle – it’s a very important game in the relegation battle – and, especially mentally, we need to come back.”
It’s likely that Forest will again be without the influential Morgan Gibbs-White, who was an unused substitute against Villa after suffering a facial injury in the league win at Chelsea on Monday.
Victory today would lift Forest above Newcastle, yet the middle of the table is so congested that Newcastle – who start the day in 13th – could still qualify for Europe.
“We’re looking to try and win our last three games,” said Eddie Howe. “All our energy is going into that. The lads have been focused this week. There’s been no end-of-season feel to our training ground work, that’s really important. While there’s still an opportunity, we’ll try and grab it.”
Kick off 2pm