NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
27 December, 1958

Festive double win over Newcastle

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1958 Forest beat Newcastle United 3–0 to complete a remarkable festive double.

Records and statistics

Biggest win or defeat

Forest completed a demanding festive double over Newcastle United by winning 3–0 at the City Ground only a day after beating the same opponents away.

Christmas football often worked very differently in that era, with clubs sometimes facing the same opponent in quick home-and-away fixtures across the holiday period. Forest’s schedule against Newcastle showed just how tough that format could be: St James’ Park one day, the City Ground the next.

The first meeting had brought a 3–1 win at Newcastle. Less than 24 hours later, Forest backed it up in Nottingham with another strong First Division performance, this time keeping Newcastle out completely.

Stewart Imlach scored twice before half-time, striking in the 32nd and 37th minutes, and Tommy Wilson added Forest’s third shortly after the interval. The quick burst either side of half-time turned the match firmly Forest’s way and removed any chance of Newcastle repairing the damage from the previous day.

The back-to-back wins showed the stamina and quality of a side that would soon make a much bigger mark. Forest went on to win the FA Cup later that season, and this Christmas double sits neatly inside that confident 1958–59 campaign.

Sources

11v11; TheCityGround.com; Newcastle United history

Explore more Nottingham Forest history

Browse the timeline to discover more events from this day and beyond:

DECEMBER
18
Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
22
Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
26
Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
31
Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
8
Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
12
Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
16
Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
22
Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
25
Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
29
Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
5
Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
12
Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
19
Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
11
Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
18
Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
23
Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
31
Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
7
Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
21
Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
27
Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
2
Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
5
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
12
Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
19
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
27
Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
30
Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
2
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
5
Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
16
Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
23
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
30
Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
6
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
10
Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
20
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
27
Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
3
Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
13
Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
20
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
10
Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
17
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
24
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
1
Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
8
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
15
Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
23
Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
30
Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest