It was a tough start to life back in the top flight for Nottingham Forest as they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United at St James' Park.
The Reds kept the Magpies at bay until the 58th minute of their Premier League season opener, when Fabian Schar struck in spectacular style. It would be hard to argue that Eddie Howe's men did not deserve their lead, and Callum Wilson sealed the victory for the home side with a second goal.
Forest were largely restricted in terms of an attacking threat as they adapt to the pace and quality of England's top division. Here, we take a look at how our colleagues from the national media reported on events from Tyneside...
READ MORE: Steve Cooper makes key Jesse Lingard points after Newcastle United defeat
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest have 'verbal agreement' over transfer after Newcastle defeat
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.
Sky Sports
Superb second-half goals from Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson saw Newcastle ease past Nottingham Forest 2-0 in their Premier League opener, but Eddie Howe wants his side to be more ruthless in front of goal.
The Magpies really should have won by more after a dominant but frustrating first half. Newcastle registered 14 shots - six on target - and had seven corners, but were guilty of being wasteful in front of goal.
Joelinton should have buried at least two of his first-half chances, dragging one wide and seeing another well saved by Nottingham Forest loanee Dean Henderson. Along with fellow debutant Moussa Niakhate, the pair were key in keeping Forest from an opening weekend mauling at St James' Park.
The Telegraph
It took two special finishes to consign them to defeat and on albeit brief evidence they look capable of competing at this level, but that will be of scant consolation as Nottingham Forest were taught a harsh early lesson on their first day back at the Premier League's school of hard knocks.
They kept Newcastle at bay for almost an hour, and should have been level immediately after Fabian Schar's stunning opener so there were plenty of positives to take back down the A1 in the absence of any tangible points, the only one of the three promoted sides to emerge empty handed on opening day.
Forest will not be alone in returning empty-handed this season from the increasingly fortress-like St James' Park, as Eddie Howe's side maintained the impressive momentum with which they ended the last campaign to earn a fully deserved victory.
The Guardian
“It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for NUFC and we’re feeling good,” read a giant banner unfurled in the Gallowgate End before kick off.
Nottingham Forest’s initial obduracy would test the optimism of the legions of Newcastle fans buying into that message but, well before 5pm, Fabian Schar’s superlative opening goal and another fine finish from Callum Wilson would ensure it was most definitely not a case of tempting fate.
Forest were back in Premier League action for the first time in 23 years and with Steve Cooper handing debuts to six of his 12 summer signings, travelling supporters arrived in suitably emotional mood.
Their admirably resilient team spent quite a long time spoiling Newcastle’s prospective party courtesy of some last-ditch defending, with their captain, Joe Worrall, leading the resistance from his station in the back three. Ultimately though Newcastle, and the richly gifted Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes especially, were too good to be contained indefinitely.
Daily Mail
Let us be clear, Newcastle schooled Nottingham Forest from start to finish but, as chance after chance passed them by, you wondered whether the visitors were about to spoil their way to a point on their return to the Premier League after 23 years away.
Schar’s intervention, then, was needed. Collecting the ball 40 yards out, he strode forward unopposed and accepted the invitation to shoot. He was encouraged, too, by a crowd growing a little frustrated with a scoreline that was no reflection of their side’s superiority.
Forest debutant Dean Henderson is a confident boy, though, and would have backed himself to stop an effort from such distance. Even at the point of contact it appeared speculative. So the sound of Schar’s strike kissing the inside of the post would have felt like a smack in the mouth for the goalkeeper, rendered helpless by the precision of the execution.
The Sun
Fabulous Fabian Schar’s stunner and Callum Wilson’s canny flick saw off Nottingham Forest in their first top-flight game in 23 years and 82 days.
Steve Cooper’s side held their own against Newcastle until they were undone by a moment of magic by the Swiss defender after 58 minutes.
Picking up a cleared corner 30 yards out to the right, Schar advanced to the edge of the box and let rip with a screamer into the top corner of Dean Henderson’s near post.
Forest didn’t have many chances but Sam Surridge nodded a great opening into the ground and wide moments later.
And it proved fatal with Wilson’s cute finish from Joelinton’s low cross ensuring it was a miserable Prem return for the Midlanders.
Press Association
Fabian Schar’s piledriver and Callum Wilson’s impudence ensured Nottingham Forest’s long-awaited return to the Premier League ended in defeat at Newcastle.
Schar thumped a long-range 58th-minute strike past debutant goalkeeper Dean Henderson before Wilson beat him with a cultured flick to secure a 2-0 victory which was scant reward for a dominant display at St James’ Park.
The Magpies had to wait until December and their 15th fixture for a first league win last season, but head coach Eddie Howe, who signed a new long-term contract on Friday, collected three points at the first time of asking this time around to increase the level of optimism among an expectant crowd of 52,245.
Forest, playing in the top-flight once again after an absence of 23 years, battled manfully throughout, but the traffic was largely one way as they were given a taste of what lies ahead for them.
What did you make of Forest's performance? Let us know in the comments section.
READ NEXT:
Nottingham Forest player ratings vs Newcastle: Tough start to Premier League life for Reds
Nottingham Forest fans all say the same thing after Newcastle United defeat
Nottingham Forest weakness identified as Steve Cooper names first Premier League starting line-up
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper names first Reds team to play in Premier League in 23 years
Click here for all the latest Nottingham Forest news from Nottinghamshire Live
