NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1):
6 Darlow: Didn’t have a chance with Dumitru’s goal and made a number of routine saves from shots that were straight at him
7 Yedlin: Preferred to Anita down the right, and justified his recall with a series of effective surges down the flank
7 Lascelles: Led Newcastle’s defensive line well and got the better of Bendtner for most of the evening
6 Clark: Effective and disciplined in the main, although he should probably have done better for Dumitru’s goal
6 Dummett: Defensively sound for the vast majority of the night, although his distribution is still occasionally a cause for concern
7 Hayden: Saw plenty of the ball at the base of midfield and was always the Newcastle midfielder looking to break into the box
5 Colback: Disappointing as he failed to step in for Shelvey – not disciplined enough defensively and too passive in possession
8 RITCHIE: Got Newcastle going with his early free-kick and posed a series of problems as he attacked down the right
5 Perez: Struggled to make any kind of an impression as he was preferred to Diame – still to prove he can cope with the Championship
6 Atsu: Made a number of influential bursts down the left-hand side and will be missed when he heads off to Africa
8 Gayle: His predatory qualities came to the fore again as he scored with a superb volley and a close-range striker’s finish
Subs:
6 Diame (for Colback, 68): Added some welcome drive and energy and he came on to the field for the final quarter of the game
Lazaar (for Ritchie, 83)
Mitrovic (for Gayle, 88)
(not used): Sels (gk), Anita, Mbemba, Gouffran.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-5-1):
Stojkovic 5; Cash 6, Mills 4, Hobbs 5, Lichaj 4; Dumitru 7 (Assombalonga 73), Lam 5 (Ahmedhodzic 84), OSBORN 7, Kasami 6, Pereira 5; Bendtner 4 (Vaughan 81).
Subs (not used): Henderson (gk), Grant, Carayol, Vellios.
Man Of The Match: MATT RITCHIE – The Newcastle winger scored one goal and set up another as his attacking surges repeatedly put the Forest defence on the back foot
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