NEW CASH CRISIS FOR RAFA
Toon have spent less than Forest ... and it showed
Nott’m Forest 3 Newcastle 1
NEWCASTLE’S fighting spirit was called into question before this cup tie – and they were KO’d by three sucker-punches.
This was Toon’s first outing since stories emerged that club captain Jamaal Lascelles and midfielder Matt Ritchie had been involved in a training-ground dust-up.
But for long periods that spirit was nowhere to be seen as they served up a tame offering. And even when they managed to find a way to goal late on, they managed to leave themselves open to a devastating counter-attack.
Former Toon striker Daryl Murphy put Forest ahead as early as the second minute and that looked to be that until a dramatic finale.
First, Toon sub Salomon Rondon grabbed an equaliser in the first minute of added time, with both sides seemingly set for penalties.
But then a quick Forest break ended with sub Matty Cash blasting home just seconds later to put the home side in front again.
And then, just to rub salt into the wounds, Gil Dias added the finishing touch with a deft finish to leave the City Ground in raptures.
Toon boss Rafa Benitez made seven changes from the starting XI beaten in the dying seconds at St James’ Park by Chelsea. He handed a full debut to 20-year-old academy product Sean Longstaff, who impressed, and gave a run-out to new signing Yoshinori Muto, who didn’t.
Despite all of Benitez’s good work on Tyneside, he has failed to bring any joy in the knockout competitions.
And for all the talk of tempers flaring, it was almost as if the Toon were punch-drunk at kick-off.
After a disappointing start to the season in the Premier League, Newcastle fans were hoping a good cup run would lift early-season gloom.
But after this tame surrender the mutterings that began on Saturday when Benitez adopted an ultra-cautious approach on home territory may just grow louder.