Newcastle's Bruno Guimarães Worsens Postecoglou's Growing Troubles at Forest

Forest's manager headed towards the tunnel deep in thought, gaze fixed on the ground. Following seven games in charge and zero wins, his immediate future appeared as uncertain as a fog on the Tyne.

While the home side were not at their best level, second-half strikes from Bruno Guimarães and Nick Woltemade—Woltemade's a spot-kick—ultimately secured them a restorative second top-flight win of the season.

At kick-off, Postecoglou's padded jacket swaddled him like a duvet, but his restless body language indicated it provided no solace.

No jacket could protect Postecoglou from the anxiety that his winless start at Forest—having arrived as the only manager in a century without a win in his opening six fixtures—would continue ahead of a possible sacking over the international break.

However, his side did not do too badly during a defensively stingy opening period.

While the young midfielder at times upstaged even the Italian star in midfield, showing everyone why Eddie Howe was so reluctant to let go of the academy product, the defender marked the striker effectively, and Nicolò Savona caused Dan Burn problems on the flank.

Credit to the forward, who got minimal supply in the air or on the ground, his team's creative department lacked fluidity.

True, it took a superb fingertip save from the Forest goalkeeper—a former Newcastle shot-stopper—to deny the Brazilian's header, and the player failed to convert a few other chances, but overall, Forest's defense was significantly better.

Considering it is barely a few weeks since Postecoglou succeeded his predecessor and matches have come thick and fast, with precious little time to implement his ideas on the training ground, all the speculation of an looming dismissal seemed somewhat ridiculous.

Or at least it did until Guimarães curled a right-foot shot over Sels and into the upper net from just outside the box.

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

The Forest squad complained about a perceived infraction on their playmaker by Guimarães in the lead-up, but their protests were ignored by the officials.

As Tonali now ascendant in midfield, Anderson was not the only visiting player being put in his place.

By now, Postecoglou had removed his anorak and pushed up the arms of his jumper. With his team rarely looking likely of scoring and Newcastle looking to shred their earlier improved defensive organisation, he was obviously feeling the heat.

There was a further excellent stop from Sels to keep out the midfielder's driven attempt, before the resultant corner led to the striker's shot hitting the bottom of the crossbar.

Sels then made an excellent double save from the defender and the winger before finally being beaten from the penalty spot by the German.

The penalty was given when the midfielder's mistimed tackle brought the Brazilian tumbling to the ground.

Stepping up, the Germany striker to confound the goalie by chipping a quite bold spot-kick into the top left corner.

That marked Woltemade's 4th strike for Newcastle since his seventy-million-pound transfer from Stuttgart in August, making a mockery of comments from senior figures at Bayern Munich that the Magpies were “foolish” to pay so heavily for the centre-forward.

It wasn't his finest game in Newcastle colors, but his ability to retain possession and use his sticky touch to connect attacks is already well on the way to a cult hero on in Newcastle.