🔗 Share this article

Forest's manager headed for the exit scratching his head, gaze fixed on the ground. Following seven matches in charge with no victories, his immediate future seemed as uncertain as a fog on the Tyne.

Although the home side were not at their dominant level, second-half goals from the Brazilian midfielder and the German striker—the latter from the penalty spot—ultimately earned them a much-needed second Premier League victory of the season.

From the start, the manager's padded jacket wrapped him like a duvet, but his agitated body language indicated it provided no solace.

No jacket could shield Postecoglou from the fear that his victory-less beginning by the Trent—taking over as the first manager in a century to go winless in his first half-dozen fixtures—would extend before a likely sacking over the international break.

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

While Elliot Anderson on occasion upstaged even the Italian star in the center, reminding everyone why Eddie Howe was so hesitant to let go of the homegrown talent, Nikola Milenkovic marked the striker out of the game, and the winger caused the full-back problems on the flank.

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

True, it took a fine stop from the Forest goalkeeper—a former Magpies shot-stopper—to keep out Joelinton header, and the midfielder missed a few other chances, but generally, the visitors' defending was much improved.

Considering it is only a few weeks since Postecoglou succeeded his predecessor and games have come in quick succession, leaving precious little time to implement his theories on the practice field, all the speculation of an looming sack seemed somewhat ridiculous.

That was until the midfielder lifted a right-foot shot past the keeper and into the top corner from the edge of the area.

It left Postecoglou looking dismayed in apparent despair, with the pained look of a man who had just lost his keys.

His players protested about a perceived foul on Morgan Gibbs-White by the scorer in the lead-up, but their protests fell on deaf ears by the referee.

As the Italian now ascendant in midfield, the youngster was not the sole visiting player struggling to make an impact.

By now, Postecoglou had removed his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his sweater. As his team seldom appearing capable of scoring and Newcastle looking to break down their earlier improved backline, he was obviously feeling the heat.

It took a further excellent save from Sels to keep out Tonali's driven cross-shot, before the resultant corner prefaced the striker's half-volley hitting the underside of the crossbar.

Sels then made an superb two quick stops from the defender and the winger before eventually being beaten from the penalty spot by Woltemade.

That spot-kick was given when Anderson's mistimed challenge brought Guimarães tumbling down.

Stepping up, the Germany forward to confound Sels by chipping a quite bold penalty into the top left corner.

It was his fourth goal for Newcastle since his seventy-million-pound transfer from the German side in August, contradicting comments from senior figures at the German giants that the Magpies were “foolish” to spend so heavily for the centre-forward.

It wasn't his best game in black and white, but his ability to retain possession and use his adhesive touch to connect attacks is already making him a fan favorite on Tyneside.