Sky Sports expert’s verdict – Interesting on Newcastle United ahead of Nottingham Forest game

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·10 November 2024

Sky Sports expert’s verdict – Interesting on Newcastle United ahead of Nottingham Forest game

The Sky Sports column ‘Jones Knows’ has given some interesting analysis and commentary on what is currently the position at Newcastle United.

The column makes predictions on what will happen at certain Premier League matches and also debates other matters/issues at clubs as well.

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However, unlike the usual ex-pro predictions, that are usually simply based on how ‘big’ a club is and whether or not they won the previous game, this one has proper analysis and insight, not lazy assumptions.

The Sky Sports ‘Jones Knows’ column looks at the matches from a betting perspective and has been concentrating on this Newcastle United game away at Nottingham Forest.

Lewis Jones (who is the Sky Sports expert behind the ‘Jones Knows’ column) has highlighted some major underlying factors that could / should have a big bearing on this Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United game.

“This Nottingham Forest team are third in the Premier League on merit – it’s no fluke when looking at the underlying data.

“This is a devilishly hard team to beat – but can they sustain it?

“Well, with these two centre-backs in Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo they stand a chance of a top-six finish. In nine games when they’ve started together, Forest have conceded just 0.7 goals per 90.

“I’d be surprised here if Newcastle better that and score two or more, so Forest on the draw no bet market at 10/11 with Sky Bet looks a tempting price to consider.

“Score prediction: Nottingham Forest 2 Newcastle 1”

Always interesting to hear what the Sky Sports expert has to say with his analysis on Newcastle United matches and as usual, some good stuff there.

However, as is always the case, there are other stats he doesn’t mention, that can back up an alternative point of view and/or weaken his forecast.

Good luck to Nottingham Forest but reality is that they have won five of eleven games (all competitions) this season, a brilliant win at Liverpool who now top the league, but the other four wins having come against clubs (Palace, Southampton, West Ham and Leicester) who are all in the bottom seven of this current Premier League table.

The Sky Sports expert also doesn’t even mention that Newcastle United have already won away at Forest this season, in the League Cup. Indeed, until beating Palace 1-0 and West Ham 3-0 (the Hammers playing over half the match with 10 men), Forest at home this season had drawn against Wolves and Bournemouth, as well as losing to Fulham and Newcastle.

Reality suggests that this season a lot of teams are capable of beating each other and that is summed up by ten clubs currently separated by only four points, from Newcastle United up to Nottingham Forest.

The Sky Sports man confidently predicted Arsenal to win at St James’ Park and Newcastle United to not even score. if Eddie Howe’s team play once again at those levels, I can’t see United losing this.

As for potentially winning, Alexander Isak scored that superb header against Arsenal, brilliantly set up by Anthony Gordon. That made up three games in a row where Isak had scored and with him seemingly back to something like full fitness and top form, goals are more than possible for NUFC today. Isak scored both when Newcastle won at Forest in March 2023, whilst Bruno scored twice last season in the 3-2 win at the City Ground.

Forest and Newcastle have conceded the second and third lowest number of PL goals this season and in all competitions, Eddie Howe’s side have kept clean sheets in four of their last six matches.

This is no easy match but Newcastle well capable of getting a positive result.

Eddie Howe keeping the same eleven who won against Arsenal last weekend, whilst United with what looks their strongest bench for some time.

Newcastle United team v Nottingham Forest:

Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Bruno, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton

Subs:

Targett, Jacob Murphy, Dubravka, Osula, Miley, Barnes, Almiron, Tonali, Kelly

Newcastle United upcoming matches confirmed to end of January 2025:

Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle (3pm)

Wednesday 4 December – Newcastle v Liverpool (7.30pm) Amazon

Saturday 7 December – Brentford v Newcastle (3pm)