Newcastle's Guimarães Adds to Postecoglou's Growing Troubles at Forest

Forest's manager strode towards the tunnel deep in thought, his eyes downcast. After seven matches in charge and no victories, his prospects looked as unclear as thick mist over the river.

Although the home side were far from their best level, second-half strikes from the Brazilian midfielder and Nick Woltemade—the latter a spot-kick—eventually earned them a much-needed second Premier League win this campaign.

From the start, the manager's insulated anorak wrapped him similar to a blanket, but his agitated gestures suggested it provided little comfort.

No coat could protect Postecoglou from the anxiety that his victory-less start by the Trent—having arrived as the first manager in a century to go winless in his opening six fixtures—would extend ahead of a likely sacking during the international break.

However, his side performed reasonably well during a defensively stingy first half.

While Elliot Anderson at times outshone even the Italian star in the center, showing everyone why the Newcastle boss was so hesitant to let go of the academy product, Nikola Milenkovic contained Woltemade effectively, and the winger caused Dan Burn difficulties on the flank.

Credit to the forward, who got minimal service to his feet or head, his side's attacking play was not quite clicking.

Admittedly, it took a fine fingertip save from Matt Sels—a former Newcastle shot-stopper—to keep out Joelinton header, and the player missed a few opportunities, but generally, Forest's defense was much improved.

Given it is barely a month since the Australian replaced his predecessor and matches have come thick and fast, with precious little time to implement his theories on the practice field, all the speculation of an impending dismissal seemed faintly ridiculous.

That was until the midfielder lifted a effort over the keeper and into the upper net from the edge of the area.

It left the manager looking dismayed in clear frustration, with the anguished expression of a man who had just lost his keys.

His players complained about a possible infraction on their playmaker by Guimarães in the lead-up, but their protests fell on deaf ears by the referee.

As the Italian now dominant in the middle, Anderson was not the only away player struggling to make an impact.

By now, Postecoglou had removed his coat and rolled up the arms of his jumper. With Forest seldom appearing likely of finding the net and Newcastle looking to break down their earlier much-enhanced backline, he was obviously under pressure.

There was a further excellent save from Sels to keep out Tonali's driven cross-shot, before the following corner prefaced the striker's half-volley crashing the bottom of the crossbar.

The keeper then made an excellent two quick stops from the defender and the winger before eventually being beaten from the penalty spot by Woltemade.

The penalty was given when the midfielder's mistimed challenge brought Guimarães tumbling down.

Stepping up, the German forward to confound Sels by chipping a rather audacious spot-kick into the upper left side.

It was Woltemade's fourth goal for the club since his seventy-million-pound move from Stuttgart in the summer, making a mockery of claims from senior figures at Bayern Munich that Newcastle were “idiots” to pay so heavily for the striker.

It wasn't Woltemade's best game in black and white, but his ability to retain possession and use his sticky touch to link play is already making him a fan favorite on Tyneside.