Newcastle United had to settle for a draw at the City Ground after former player Elliot Anderson netted an 88th-minute equaliser with the Magpies' late frailties exposed once again.
It must be frustrating for Eddie Howe and his coaching staff with Newcastle dropping points from a winning position for the 10th time this season – the most of any time in the Premier League.
In 2026 alone, Newcastle took the lead against Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Brentford, and Liverpool before going on to lose all of those games with late goals a recurring theme.
After taking the lead in a league game this season, Newcastle have gone on to win the game just 56.5% of the time (13 wins from 23 times leading).
That record is one of the lowest in the season and only fractionally better than Tottenham Hotspur (56.3%) with the three teams currently in the relegation zone also failing to make the most of their leads: West Ham United (52.9%), Wolverhampton Wanderers (50%), and Burnley (40%).
However, unlike Newcastle, all of those teams have a smaller 'sample size' having taken the lead far fewer times.
In fact, only three teams have taken the lead more than the Magpies – the top three of Manchester City (30 times), Arsenal (28), and Manchester United (26) – with Newcastle taking the lead 23 times, the same number as Liverpool.
And it is late goals that have proven to be the Achilles' heel. Howe's side have conceded 52 goals in the Premier League so far this season, 20 of which (38.5%) came from the 76th minute onwards.
In fact no team has conceded as many goals from minutes 76 until 90 as Newcastle United this season, 12 with Sunday's opponents Forest the closest on 11. Similarly, they are joint top for goals conceded in stoppage time with eight – the same number as Leeds and already-relegated Burnley.
There are still two games remaining this season and fans will know if they see their team take the lead, even as late as Harvey Barnes 74th minute strike against Forest, then the game is still far from decided.
