In recent years, this fixture doesn't have much history but it arguably has history during the 20th century. Interestingly, from January 1923 through to January 1947, Nottingham Forest came to St. James' Park on ten occasions, losing every single time. This ten-game win streak spanned an aggregate scoreline of 30-5.
Without much in the way of history in this competition, we'll be hoping that we can go one or possibly two steps further than the cup run we had last season. An impressive run saw us fall at the quarter-final stage away at Hull City in a game that we dominated throughout normal time before losing on penalties.
Facts and Figures
All Competitions
Newcastle wins: 49
Nottm Forest wins: 33
Draws: 27
EFL Cup games
Newcastle wins: 2
Draws: 1 (Played in 1975 - when EFL Cup ties were played over two legs)
At St. James' Park
Newcastle wins: 31
Nottm Forest wins: 12
Draws: 12
Previous ten (all competitions)
Newcastle wins: 6 (20 goals)
Nottm Forest wins: 3 (10 goals)
Draws: 1
Biggest wins (in this fixture)
Newcastle United 5 - 0 Nottingham Forest (11/05/1997)
The club's biggest home win against Nottm Forest came on the final day of the 1996/97 season. Forest were already relegated but Newcastle still had Champions League football to compete for and secured it in style with a thrashing.
Going into the game, Newcastle and Arsenal were sat in third and fourth with the same amount of points and goal difference courtesy of Newcastle's 1-0 win at Highbury the previous week. Liverpool were in second with a two point advantage over third and fourth but with an inferior goal difference. They couldn't capitalise on the two-point lead as they grabbed a late equaliser to draw against Sheffield Wednesday. Arsenal recovered late on to beat Derby County by a two-goal margin which was enough for Newcastle to finish second with a confident performance over Forest. Arsenal and Liverpool had to settle for UEFA Cup football.
Two goals for Les Ferdinand, playing his final game for the club. One goal each for Faustino Asprilla and Alan Shearer saw the Magpies go 4-0 up at half time before Robbie Elliott's long range shot on his weaker right foot finished the rout. Also playing his final game for the club was club legend, Peter Beardsley. He made 321 appearances and scored 117 goals over the course of his two spells for the club.
Biggest defeats (in this fixture)
Newcastle United 1 - 4 Nottingham Forest (25/12/1957)
Newcastle United 0 - 3 Nottingham Forest (19/10/1985)
One player who could be making a return to St. James' Park on Wednesday night is Daryl Murphy. The 34-year old moved to Nottingham Forest this summer after just one season on Tyneside where he helped the team secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
Fact: Since the Premier League started in 1992, the second tier has only been won twice when the eventual winners lost their first two games of the season - Sunderland (2006/07) and, of course, Newcastle United (2016/17). Daryl Murphy was in both of those Championship-winning squads.
The last time the two teams played each other in this competition was in the third round in September 2011 when Forest were managed by future Newcastle boss, Steve McClaren and a Newcastle debut was given to Rob Elliot. Two goals from Peter Lovenkrands in normal time were cancelled out by Robbie Findlay and Matt Derbyshire. In extra time, a cross-come-shot from Danny Simpson ended up in the back of the net. A third Forest equaliser came from Michael Tudgay before Fabricio Coloccini headed home the winner to end a thrilling cup tie.