Newcastle United made an easy start to the new campaign with goals from Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson in their 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, giving the visitors a miserable return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence. Newcastle started their Premier League campaign perfectly, putting together a dominating display and the results to match with a stubborn Forest side. Newcastle United dominated Nottingham Forest from start to finish at St. James’ Park, and the two goals which secured victory against Nottingham Forest were straight out of the top drawer. Newcastle‘s second goal assured that this would not be a scary end to the game for Newcastle Nottingham Forest.
Fabian Schar’s volleyed long-range effort from the edge of the area in the 58th minute slipped beyond debuting keeper Dean Henderson. Then Callum Wilson’s clinical volley past him secured the 2-0 win, a small price to pay for the dominating performance at St James’ Park. Nottingham Forest’s early indecision will challenge the optimism of the legions of Newcastle fans who bought that message, but, long before 5 pm, Fabian Schar’s superb second-half strike and Callum Wilson’s other superb finish ensured that this was hardly a case of tempting fate. Nottingham Forest had a whiff of a goal late in the first half but was denied a highly unlikely opener. The sound of Schar’s shot grazing inside the post will have felt like a punch to the mouth to Forest debutant Dean Henderson. Picking up the ball just outside the penalty box after the corner, Fabian Schar was left without challenge and drifted into the box from the 18-yard area, then ripped home a fantastic goal into the top corner.
When Lewis O’Brien finally found Jesse Lingard in dangerous positions, St James Park held collectively. Still, Schar made a crucial block to prevent Nick Pope, who was making his debut for Newcastle, having been favoured over Martin Dubravka at the back following his transfer from Burnley being adequately protected. The second half started much similarly, with Allan Saint-Maximin denied by Forest debutant Dean Henderson in short order from a tight angle as the central midfielder looked for another route into the net.
The Newcastle fans will be very excited to see their side performing like this on the field and would also wish that the team display more like this. Newcastle was excellent in attack, and they were very eager to take the chances that came their way; with 23 shots taken, you could have imagined the kind of pressure the newly promoted team might have faced, and in return, they only took five shots with none of them were on target.