Will Newcastle chop down Nottingham Forest when they face off in Wednesday’s EFL Cup fixture, at 7.45pm on Sky Sports Football?

Following a frustrating transfer window, which saw Mike Ashley allow Rafael Benitez spend just £22.5 million total – on Martin Dubravka, Federico Fernandez, Fabian Schar, Yoshinori Muto and Ki Sung-yueng (who was free) – the Toon went into a daunting start to the season without much to be happy about. And since then little has happened to change that feeling of discontent.



On one hand, Newcastle have been dealt an unforgiving fixtures list; already they’ve faced Tottenham and Man United, losing 2-1 to both, with their next 2 Premier League matches against Man City and Arsenal. On the other, a goalless draw against top flight returnees Cardiff worryingly suggested a side unable to pick up the ostensibly ‘easy’ points when they need to.

At least it looks like 2017 signee Joselu has improved. Having scored 4 goals in 32 appearances last season, he already has 2 in 3 in 2018/18, finding the back of the net against both Spurs and United. He has a Super Mega PGM of 24-29, trailing Jose Salomon Rondon at 27-32, but ahead of Ayoze Perez and Muto at 20-24 apiece.

As for Forest, Aitor Karanka’s overseen a frustrating start to the season. Technically unbeaten, they’ve actually drawn 4 of their 5 Championship fixtures, with 1-1 ties against Bristol and West Brom, and 2-2 stalemates against Wigan and Birmingham. The one actively positive result came sandwiched in the middle, a 1-0 victory over Reading.

Even their progress in the EFL Cup was laboured. They went 1-0 down to Bury in the 2nd minute, taking until the 90th to equalise, hampered by a red card for goalkeeper Jordan Smith at the half hour mark. A drawn out shootout followed, Forest finally securing a 10-9 penalty victory.

Though they have hardly inspired, Karanka’s side are yet to lose a game, something that can’t be said of the Toon. Still, the visitors do have the (slight) Premier League edge, at a Newcastle/Nottingham Forest (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.15-0.35 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.