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Ange Postecoglou headed for the tunnel with a puzzled expression, gaze fixed on the ground. Following seven matches as manager with no victories, his prospects appeared as murky as thick mist over the river.

While the home side were not at their ferocious level, second-half goals from Bruno Guimarães and Nick Woltemade—the latter from the penalty spot—eventually earned them a much-needed another top-flight victory of the season.

From the start, the manager's padded jacket swaddled him like a duvet, but his agitated gestures suggested it provided no solace.

No coat could shield Postecoglou from the anxiety that his winless beginning by the Trent—having arrived as the first manager in 100 years to go winless in his opening six fixtures—would extend before a likely sacking over the upcoming pause.

And yet, his team did not do too badly during a defensively stingy opening period.

While the young midfielder on occasion upstaged even the Italian star in midfield, showing everyone why Eddie Howe was so hesitant to sell the academy product, the defender contained the striker out of the game, and Nicolò Savona gave the full-back difficulties down the home left.

In fairness to Woltemade, who got little service in the air or on the ground, his team's creative department lacked fluidity.

Admittedly, it took a fine fingertip save from the Forest goalkeeper—ex- Newcastle goalkeeper—to keep out Joelinton effort, and the midfielder missed a few opportunities, but generally, Forest's defending was significantly better.

Considering it is only a few weeks since Postecoglou succeeded his predecessor and matches have come in quick succession, leaving precious little time to put into practice his theories on the training ground, all the talk of an impending dismissal seemed faintly ridiculous.

That was until Guimarães curled a right-foot shot past the keeper and into the top corner from just outside the area.

That saw the manager looking dismayed in clear frustration, with the pained expression of a man who had just lost his house keys.

His players protested about a perceived foul on their playmaker by the scorer in the buildup, but their protests were ignored by the referee.

As Tonali now ascendant in midfield, Anderson was not the sole away player struggling to make an impact.

At this point, Postecoglou had removed his anorak and rolled up the arms of his jumper. With Forest seldom looking likely of finding the net and the hosts looking to break down their previously improved backline, he was clearly feeling the heat.

It took another excellent save from the goalkeeper to keep out Tonali's driven attempt, before the resultant set-piece prefaced Woltemade's half-volley hitting the bottom of the crossbar.

Sels then made an excellent two quick stops from the defender and the winger before eventually being beaten from the penalty spot by the German.

That spot-kick was given when Anderson's mistimed tackle sent Guimarães tumbling down.

Up stepped, the Germany forward to beat Sels by chipping a quite audacious spot-kick into the upper left side.

That marked his fourth goal for the club since his £70m transfer from the German side in August, making a mockery of claims from senior figures at the German giants that the Magpies were “idiots” to pay so much for the centre-forward.

This may not have been Woltemade's finest performance in black and white, but his ability to hold the ball up and use his sticky touch to connect attacks is already well on the way to a fan favorite on Tyneside.