Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United: Key stats and talking points

TL;DR

Nottingham Forest faces Newcastle United on Sunday, aiming to secure Premier League survival after a Europa League semi-final loss. They need at least four points from their remaining games to ensure safety.

Key points

Nottingham Forest lost in the Europa League semi-finals
They are six points clear of West Ham
A win against Newcastle could secure their Premier League status
Forest needs four points from three games to stay up
They suffered a surprising 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa

Nottingham ForestNewcastle UnitedAston VillaWest Ham

After the disappointment of losing in the Europa League semi-finals, Nottingham Forest return to action looking to taking a step closer to securing their Premier League status, against Newcastle on Sunday (14:00 BST). BBC Sport looks at the key themes ahead of the fixture.

Forest must now concentrate on survival

Having had their dreams of European glory ruthlessly dashed by Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest must now pick themselves up and secure the points they need to secure their Premier League status for next season.

Six points clear of West Ham with three games to go, four points would definitely see them stay up, but a win should also prove to be enough given their vastly superior goal difference over the Hammers.

The manner of Thursday's 4-0 defeat at Villa Park was surprising given what a rich vein of form they have been in.

The improvement by Vitor Pereira's side in front of goal in recent weeks has been astonishing. Having managed a paltry 28 goals in their first 30 league games of the season they have banged in a remarkable 16 in their last five.

Those 16 goals - from only 49 shots - have come from an xG of just 6.8, meaning they have overperformed it by an incredible 9.2.

Pereira's sharpshooters have scored three or more goals in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since March to April 1995 having trounced Sunderland 5-0, Burnley 4-1 and Chelsea 3-1.