FOUR matches in and Newcastle United are still searching for a first win of the season, and to make matters worse this time a third defeat arrived at the home of Championship opposition.

Let’s not take anything away from Nottingham Forest, well organised in the trademark fashion of former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka, who competed throughout and could easily have scored more even before a frantic three goal stoppage-time finish.

Instead it looked like one would be enough. Daryl Murphy, who chose not to celebrate against one of his former clubs, delivered the blow with just 90 seconds on the clock when he gave Fabian Schar an introduction to English football with the sort of header he has made a career out of.

Newcastle substitute Salomon Rondon threatened to put the game to penalties when he levelled in the second of six minutes of stoppage-time; his first for the club.

But Forest, who survived a late penalty scare which incensed Ayoze Perez who went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Luke Steele, were not to be beaten. Matty Cash’s strike moments later was followed by a third from the impressive Gil Dias and that was that.

There will be those who might blame the seven changes Rafa Benitez made to his starting line-up as an excuse for defeat, a reason to suggest he didn’t take the Carabao Cup seriously.

The truth is, though, this was a team sent out by Benitez that should still have been capable of reaching round three; the players wearing black and white just never appeared to turn up with the desire required to progress.

Now, with August not even over, Newcastle and the travelling band of more than 3,000 supporters are out of one of the competitions they might have stood a chance of winning. The focus, once more, is where Benitez and Mike Ashley – again the subject of derogatory chants - would prefer it to be, on the Premier League.

Even though Benitez was always going to rest some of his key players for the game, he still included plenty first team players such as Ciaran Clark, Ki Sung-yueng, Schar, Federico Fernandez and Kenedy. The latter was particularly disappointing.

There was also a first, albeit ineffective, start for Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto alongside youngsters Jamie Sterry and Sean Longstaff, while the absence of injured duo Matt Ritchie and Jamaal Lascelles was expected – even before fresh details emerged of a training ground row over the manager’s tactics.

An ideal way to put any doubts to bed would have been to win comfortably in the Carabao Cup, but Forest clearly had other ideas from the moment the game started.

Dias had already created space to test former Forest goalkeeper Karl Darlow from distance with the first attack before the loose ball ended up leading to the early opener.

When Sam Byram beat Clark down the Newcastle left, he sent over the ideal delivery for Murphy to arrive ahead of Schar to glance in the opener beyond Darlow.

Forest boss Karanka, like he did during his time at Middlesbrough, wanted progress and fielded a strong team in the hope of finding that winning feeling, having only won once in the league this season even if they have been yet to lose.

A certain level of confidence was there to see, particularly when they moved forward with the full-backs determined to cause full-backs Sterry and Clark headaches. Defensively, though, Newcastle didn’t cause them anywhere near the sort of problems a Premier League opponent should have.

A sign of just how concerned Newcastle were was the regular sight of assistant boss Mikel Antia regularly barking out orders from the technical area, as well as Benitez, particularly for defensive corners.

It was actually from a corner at the other end where Newcastle almost levelled. It was the closest they came to scoring in the first half, when Joselu’s header at the near post had just too much on it for Muto to be able to turn in at the back post.

The Spaniard was also the man who was first to go close after the restart too as Newcastle stepped things up after quarter of an hour with Benitez.

When Christian Atsu delivered to the near post, Joselu moved away from his marker and his header from 12 yards had to be well turned away by goalkeeper Steele.

But anyone expecting Forest to just sit deep from there on in were wrong. Almost immediately they had two great chances to extend the lead.

Murphy had an effort blocked by Fernandez when it was going in, having seen the experienced Forest striker react quickly to a shot not saved strongly enough by Darlow. From the corner Michael Hefele headed wide.

There was more for Darlow to do on the hour too. He had to scurry back and palm away a chip from the impressive Joao Carvalho that looked like it might just drop under the crossbar, as Newcastle struggled to get going again.

Occasionally Newcastle would push forward but lacked the invention in the final third to unlock a resilient Forest defence, although the home side still looked more dangerous.

Dias fired an effort over the bar after he was allowed to run and then he went even closer with a left foot strike that flew wide late on.

Newcastle only showed the greater fight when six extra minutes were signalled, and within a couple of those Rondon cancelled it out when he found the inside of the far post.

But Forest hadn’t finished. Up they went again and their own substitute Cash hammered low into the net after Darlow failed to deal with Dias’ cross.

There was even time for another when the starring Dias chipped Darlow, moments after Newcastle had a penalty shout waved away. Perez may well complain, but so could the fans who travelled to watch this.