NEWCASTLE UNITED got their season off to the ideal start as second-half goals from Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson secured a fully-deserved 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Having dominated a one-sided first half without being able to seriously test Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson, the Magpies opened the scoring 13 minutes into the second half when Fabian Schar hammered home a sensational long-range strike.

Callum Wilson added a second goal with 12 minutes remaining, flicking home a first-time finish from Joelinton’s cross, as Newcastle claimed their first opening-weekend win at St James’ Park since 2012.

Eddie Howe handed Nick Pope a senior Newcastle debut, but opted to keep Sven Botman on the bench with Fabian Schar partnering Dan Burn at the heart of the back four.

The Magpies were the more threatening side from the off, but for all that they dominated possession before the break, with Bruno Guimaraes pulling the strings from the heart of midfield, their bright passing play tended to break down once they attempted to penetrate the Forest 18-yard box.

It was 20 minutes before either side fashioned an effort on target, and even that was a relatively tame effort, with Joelinton turning away from Jack Colback before firing in a low drive that was easily saved by Dean Henderson.

Newcastle’s best chance of the opening period came in the 27th minute, and saw Miguel Almiron wriggle into space before delivering the ball across the box from next to the byline. Allan Saint-Maximin looked perfectly positioned to head home, but Forest’s defenders made a decent job of shutting him down and the Frenchman was unable to direct an effort towards goal.

Joelinton looked set to score shortly after the half-hour mark, but after skipping past two defenders to open up a shooting position, the Brazilian pulled his effort wide of the left-hand post.

Wilson was well shackled throughout the opening period, and on the only occasion he managed to create a bit of space in the 18-yard box, he was only able to loop a tame header straight at Henderson from Joe Willock’s cross.

Forest were restricted to counter-attacking breaks for the majority of the afternoon, although Jesse Lingard got himself into a decent position as he burst onto Lewis O’Brien’s through ball six minutes before the interval, only for his first-time strike to be blocked by a sliding Schar.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Newcastle pressing for a breakthrough. Willock’s low shot was saved by Henderson, but there was nothing the Forest goalkeeper could do as Schar finally opened the scoring just before the hour mark.

Saint-Maximin’s cross was headed clear to the Swiss centre-half, and after turning towards the corner of the 18-yard box, Schar hammered home a sensational strike that found the net via the inside of the post.

The goal was no more than Newcastle deserved, although Forest came close to claiming an immediate equaliser when Neco Williams delivered a right-wing cross that Sam Surridge nodded wide.

The Magpies almost extended their lead with 13 minutes remaining, but while Almiron slotted in a low strike after a one-two with Guimaraes, Henderson got down to save.

It felt as if a second goal was coming, and it duly arrived in the 78th minute. Joelinton slid over a low cross from the left, and after bursting in front of Moussa Niakhate, Wilson flicked home a superb first-time strike.


Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett; Guimaraes (Botman 90), Willock (S Longstaff 80), Joelinton; Almiron (Fraser 80), Wilson (Wood 89), Saint-Maximin (Murphy 89).

Subs (not used): Dubravka (gk), Dummett, Ritchie, Anderson.

Nottm Forest (5-3-2): Henderson; Williams, Niakhate (Mighten 83), McKenna, Worrall, Toffolo; O’Brien (Mangala 75), Colback, Lingard; Johnson, Surridge (Awoniyi 63).

Subs (not used): Hennessey (gk), Biancone, Mbe Soh, Cafu, Taylor, Hammond.