When Newcastle Had the Ball

Newcastle lined up in a 4-4-2 which often appeared as a 4-4-1-1 with Joselu dropping deep to challenge for aerials and flick it on to a further advanced Muto. Muto had license to roam centrally and on the left side to aid Kenedy in attack. Newcastle’s preferred method of attack was long diagonals to the full backs and wingers. Schar was heavily involved in this approach, incorporating diagonals as part of 18 long passes and completing 11. Ki and Longstaff struggled centrally. Although Ki completed 93% of his passes he only attempted one through ball which did not reach its target. Longstaff, making his debut, completed 79 % of his passes with no through balls attempted.

After working it out wide the responsibility fell to Kenedy and Atsu to create. They managed just 1 cross each and despite seeing the ball often were dispossessed 9 times between them.

Forest’s high energy approach to defending paid dividends. They pressed via the 3 attackers behind ex-Newcastle favourite Daryl Murphy and defended in numbers when Newcastle advanced into their final third. Gil Dias, the right winger, managed a game-high 6 tackles. Byram and his replacement Darikwa managed 4 tackles, which suggests Newcastle failed to build through Clark and Kenedy on the left. That is understandable for Clark who is more accustomed a centre back role but Kenedy carried on where he left off at Cardiff with another poor display.