Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Paul Merson predicts a tightly fought affair between Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in in the present day’s 2pm kick-off on Tyneside.
The Sky Sports activities pundit has additionally given his ideas on how Eddie Howe’s aspect could fare within the weeks operating as much as the Carabao Cup last, with the Magpies nonetheless to face Liverpool and West Ham away in addition to Brighton within the Fifth Spherical of the FA Cup earlier than their journey to Wembley.
Either side come into Sunday having misplaced their earlier recreation. Newcastle had been demolished 4-0 on the Etihad whereas Forest misplaced 2-1 at Fulham final weekend.
Merson, who predicted we might beat Manchester Metropolis 2-1 final trip, has opted for a draw this afternoon and wonders if Newcastle’s could have one eye elsewhere within the coming weeks.
He believes that the participant’s heads could also be turning in direction of ending Newcastle’s trophy drought and writing their identify into the membership’s historical past books subsequent month. It could be true partially, however a downturn in league type could have an enormous impact on our momentum coming into the ultimate.
Chatting with Sportskeeda, Merson stated: “I used to be disillusioned with Newcastle final week. They opened the sport up towards Manchester Metropolis considering they’re flying for the time being. Newcastle wished Metropolis to have a go at them and so they received demolished within the course of!
“The factor with Newcastle is that sooner or later their gamers will begin to consider the cup last. These gamers might go down like legends and that’s too huge a temptation to not control. I flip 56 subsequent month and I’ve by no means seen Newcastle raise a trophy! So the gamers could have one eye on making historical past and I don’t blame them for doing that as a result of these video games don’t come round fairly often.
“Nottingham Forest deserved to lose towards Fulham. However they’ve at all times bounced again after defeats within the league this season. After struggling losses towards Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis, they responded with wins. Forest should guarantee they win once more as a result of I count on most groups near them within the desk to get three factors this weekend.”
Merson’s prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Nottingham Forest
There’s loads at stake when Forest makes the journey to the north east with large ramifications for our European hopes, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect at the moment six factors clear.
If the Forest supervisor can navigate his aspect to a second successive win at St. James’ Park, following from Boxing Day 2023, that hole would divulge heart’s contents to 9 with rather less than 1 / 4 of the season to play.
A win for the Mags would do the double over the Midlands aspect this season and shut the hole to 3, additionally seeing us return above Chelsea and capitalise on defeats yesterday for Bournemouth and Fulham.
