Nottingham Forest

Colin Fray, BBC Radio Nottingham

So Forest’s return to Premier League Football after 23 years was far from triumphant. In truth, they barely laid a glove on an excellent Newcastle side, who looked superb in a lot of departments - though they weren’t tested defensively.

While for some, the gulf between the sides might have come as a shock, for others it was merely an indication of how much rebuilding there remains to be done, despite the signing of so many players already this summer.

With injuries to Steve Cook and Ryan Yates, Forest’s squad looked lacking in depth. When they announced their squad numbers last week, the list included 23 senior players, of which three are goalkeepers. The likes of Laryea, Ojeda and Da Costa have left this week, taking summer departures to 22, so further incomings must happen before the end of August.

The August schedule looks daunting, especially after the defeat at Newcastle. West Ham are the first visitors, before a trip to Everton is followed by games against Spurs and Manchester City. In truth, though, Forest’s battle isn’t against the likes of Newcastle or the others likely to occupy the top eight or nine positions. And while reinforcements must still be called for, one defeat to a very good side shouldn’t, and mustn’t, lead to panic.  

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest new signing Orel Mangala expects a "crazy atmosphere" at the City Ground on Sunday as he looks to make his home debut against West Ham.

The midfielder, who signed from Stuttgart for a reported £12.7m, came on as a substitute at St James' Park on Saturday in his side's 2-0 loss against Newcastle.

"It was nice to be there and to join with the team. It was a nice experience. I am now looking forward to the game against West Ham," he told the club YouTube channel., external

"I am very excited, I heard about the atmosphere and saw some videos. I think it will be a crazy atmosphere on Sunday."

Mangala has won two caps for Belgium and added: "For me it is the best league in the world and it is one more step in my young career so I am excited.

"It is one of my goals to be in the national team all the time so I am working for it and I think Nottingham Forest is a good step for me to show myself."

• This is the first meeting between Nottingham Forest and West Ham in any competition since January 2014, when Forest won 5-0 in an FA Cup tie.

• West Ham have won 10 of their past 14 Premier League games against promoted sides.

• Forest (five) and West Ham (six) had the fewest shots of any side in last weekend's opening round of Premier League matches.

• Nottingham Forest's Jesse Lingard was involved in 13 goals in 16 Premier League appearances for West Ham in 2021 (nine goals, four assists).

Saveena Johal, Punjabi Forest, external

Entering the Premier League with a 2-0 defeat wasn’t quite the start we’d hoped for but it’s certainly not a case of a looming relegation. One game against Newcastle United away won’t define Nottingham Forest this season.

An incredibly busy transfer window fuelled the idea that the club is in an uncertain and inferior position. Add a loss to that and, instantaneously, these claims are well-supported and we’re doomed.

But… Rome wasn’t built in a day.

A newly promoted, newly formed squad will naturally need further time to adapt and settle into the style of play. With the demands of the Premier League being incomparable to those of the last 23 years, a lack in areas is to be expected.

The first performance isn’t sufficient proof for Forest to be overlooked this season, and their resilience was testament to this. A tough game, in actuality, led to the setting of a standard that they are capable of rising to given last season’s transformation.

Building on our rich history within the top flight is an aim within our capabilities.

In the words of Brian Clough: “I hope anybody’s not stupid enough to write us off”.

Particularly after a single game.

Spanish left-back Alex Moreno, 29, has rejected the chance to join Nottingham Forest and will stay at Real Betis. (Guardian), external

Atalanta have received interest in Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler, 30, from Nottingham Forest. (Tuttosport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

We asked you for your post-match thoughts after Nottingham Forest kicked-off their Premier League campaign with a disappointing defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Ashley: First game in the Premier League with lots of new players was never going to be easy, but with decent players and a great manager, performances and results will get better. I have confidence Forest will stay up.

Deano: We were well beaten and it was only Newcastle. It’s going to be difficult to finish outside the bottom three.

Joel: A slow start was always to be expected with the turnover of players that we’ve had. Unsurprisingly, we looked quite disjointed, especially going forwards. Definite change in level that players need to adapt to sooner rather than later. It's early days - no need for panic. Stick to the plan and it will bear fruit.

Andy: By all accounts we got a feel of what will be expected. Two excellent goals by a well set-up team, who are obviously better settled into this league than we are at the moment. Over the next few games we will settle into a rhythm with our newly formed group of players and hopefully hold our own and gain confidence and experience needed.

Watch all the highlights from Saturday's six matches in the Premier League, plus the best moments from Crystal Palace v Arsenal on Friday here.

For all of the highlights from Sunday including West Ham v Manchester City watch Match of the Day 2 here.

Were you at St James' Park or following the match from home?

Either way, you can now have your say on the game here

Matthew Howarth, BBC Sport

Nottingham Forest may have left St James’ Park empty handed, but for a long while it looked as though Steve Cooper’s side would mark their top-flight return with a hard-earned point as they frustrated the Magpies for long periods.

In the end, it was a moment of true Premier League quality that broke the visitors’ resistance, Fabian Schar beating Dean Henderson with a ferocious drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Yes, Newcastle could and perhaps should have scored more, but there was much to admire about the attitude and work ethic of Cooper’s team in their first top-flight match in over 23 years.

They need to find a way of posing a greater threat at the other end of the pitch – Forest managed just eight touches in the Newcastle box on Saturday and failed to register a shot on target.

But Cooper will be eager to focus on the positives as he looks to plot Forest’s path towards safety.

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper: "We were second best in the game no doubt – Newcastle looked a good team. We coped okay in terms of possession and territory but didn’t play well enough with the ball.

"Yes they had loads of the ball but we stayed compact and progressive with our defending. But what wasn’t at the required level today was when we had the ball, there were too many turnovers.

"I really believe in these players and how we play – we’ve won a lot of games, I know it was in a different league, but we need to believe.

"Of course we need to make more additions, keep going the team. We’re not looking too far ahead, we stick to the plan."

The confirmed Newcastle and Nottingham Forest team news is now in, with kick-off at St James' Park less than an hour away.

Follow the action and the rest of the Saturday's Premier League matches here

A new season - and a new Premier League predictions expert.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton is taking on the challenge from Mark Lawrenson for the 2022-23 campaign and will try to pick the correct scores for every top-flight game against a variety of guests - and this season you can get involved too.

Joining Sutton this week is football commentator and BBC Fantasy 606 co-host Alistair Bruce-Ball.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

It's great to see Forest back in the Premier League after 23 years and I hope they do well.

I was born in Nottingham and I was a massive fan of Brian Clough's European Cup-winning sides when I was growing up. Then I was lucky enough to play under two players from that time, Martin O'Neill and John Robertson, at Celtic.

Forest could do with a player like Robertson now, but they have made a couple of interesting moves in the transfer market already - Jesse Lingard is a good signing and I like the look of their new Belgian midfielder, Orel Mangala, too. I think they will stay up.

Newcastle, meanwhile, don't have to worry about beating the drop this year. Eddie Howe did such a good job there in the second half of last season and, after it looked like they were in a big relegation fight, they stayed up very comfortably in the end.

Howe played a really good brand of football as well as getting results and I am expecting more of the same this time, although they do need some reinforcements up front.

They are trying to get James Maddison from Leicester but I don't quite understand why they have left it so late before the start of the season to go for him, and we will have to wait and see how that one pans out.

As far as this game goes, it is another tricky one to call - but I am going for Newcastle to edge it because they have got home advantage.

ABB's prediction: 2-0

It's great to have Forest back in the top flight as they were such a thrilling and successful team as I got into my football in the late 1970s and early 1980s. But Newcastle finished last season strongly under Howe, who improved them significantly at both ends of the field, and I expect them to be too strong for Forest on their return.

Find out how Sutton and Bruce-Ball think the rest of the weekend's action will go and vote on the result you expect here

Nottingham Forest have loaned Richie Laryea to MLS side Toronto FC for the season.

Laryea, 27, joined Forest from the Canadian club in January and played five times in the Championship last season.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury during the friendly defeat by Benfica.

Federico Fernandez and Jamaal Lewis are sidelined with calf injuries.

Nottingham Forest's Sam Surridge is making good progress after undergoing summer surgery on a groin injury.

New signing Omar Richards will miss the start of the season due after suffering a hairline leg fracture in training, while Ryan Yates remains out.

Will Eddie Howe start summer signing Sven Botman? Predict your Newcastle XI

Where will Jesse Lingard fit into the Forest team? Predict your Forest line-up

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe has praised his opposite number Steve Cooper as Nottingham Forest prepare to play Premier League football for the first time in 22 years.

The Newcastle boss knows the promoted side will offer a stern examination for his players on the opening day at St James’ Park and credits Cooper for Forest’s transformation.

“You look at their league position from when he joined and the job that he did,” said Howe. “Not only to miss out on automatic promotion but then to deal with that and come through the play-offs.

“That’s an incredibly difficult thing to do.

“He did it with an attractive style of play and they’ll be difficult opponents for us.

"We don’t underestimate them at all.”