Nottingham Forest and Newcastle shared the spoils in a thrilling encounter at the City Ground, with Harvey Barnes and Elliot Anderson trading goals to leave both sides frustrated.
Nottingham Forest welcomed Newcastle to the City Ground on May 10th seeking to climb away from the relegation zone. Forest sat in 16th place with 42 points from 35 matches, while Newcastle occupied 13th with 45 points. Both teams needed positive results to secure their Premier League status for another season.
The first half saw Newcastle dominate possession, controlling 54 percent of the ball. Bruno Guimarães orchestrated play from midfield, firing three shots on target as the visitors pressed for an opening. Forest defended resolutely but offered little going forward in the opening stages.
Newcastle created the better chances early on. Guimarães tested the Forest goalkeeper with a powerful effort, but the hosts' backline remained solid. Forest struggled to build momentum in the first 45 minutes, with their attack lacking sharpness and creativity.
The match remained goalless at the interval. Both teams had registered six shots on target each, though Newcastle's expected goals figure of 1.55 suggested they should have led. Forest's defensive discipline had kept the game level heading into the break.
The second half brought immediate changes in intensity. Forest emerged with renewed purpose and began to threaten Newcastle's goal. The hosts pushed higher up the pitch, forcing Newcastle into deeper defensive positions.
Harvey Barnes broke the deadlock in the 74th minute. The Forest winger collected the ball and fired past Newcastle's goalkeeper to give the home side a crucial 1-0 lead. The City Ground erupted as Forest sensed an opportunity to secure three vital points.
Newcastle refused to surrender. Just 14 minutes later, in the 88th minute, Elliot Anderson restored parity with a well-taken finish. Anderson showed composure in front of goal to level the match and deny Forest victory.
The final whistle came moments after Anderson's leveler, ending an entertaining contest in a 1-1 draw. Newcastle finished with 478 accurate passes at 86 percent accuracy, while Forest completed 319 passes at 81 percent. Both sides created genuine scoring opportunities but couldn't find a winner.
The draw leaves Forest in 16th place with 42 points from 36 matches, while Newcastle remains 13th with 46 points from 36 games. Both teams continue their fight for survival in the Premier League's lower reaches as the season enters its final stages.
