The Magpies have lost four times at St. James' Park so far this season, most recently on Boxing Day against Sheffield Wednesday.

And while United are still second in the Sky Bet Championship table, boss Benitez knows that they would be doing even better if they hadn't dropped so many points in front of their own supporters.

"I'm really pleased with the away form," he said. "When a team is doing so well away, if you are also as good at home you would be ten points clear.

"We know that it's a difficult competition. We know it's a difficult league and teams are coming to our stadium and trying to work very hard in defence and be very compact, very narrow and play on the counter-attack. It's something we have seen during the whole season and we need to understand how to play these games.

"If you can not win, don't give them any hope that they can score and then at least you will have a draw. It's something that still we have to learn."

Forest boss Philippe Montanier has already admitted that his team will have to be "strong defensively" if they are to come away from St. James' Park with a result.

Benitez said: "Sometimes, when you say that they come and they press very high, to surprise you, but normally they will be well organised in defence and they will try to play counter-attack, so we will have to deal with that and do it in a better way than we did the other day because we know that we were not quick enough moving the ball.

"We know that we didn't create too much; we had the chances at the beginning and after that we were defending counter-attacks, so we have to manage better these kind of games.

"When you are the away team, you can manage it better because they have to attack and they leave more space at home."

When United travelled to the City Ground earlier this month, they were beaten 2-1 in controversial circumstances.

"For everyone who could see the game, it was a surprise the way things were going on," admitted Benitez. "After, we were right because the (two) red cards were rescinded but we lost the game so for us, it's an opportunity to put things right and get three points.

"Hopefully our fans realise that they can be a key part of our success."

Benitez doesn't believe there's any extra pressure on his Newcastle United side, despite them surrendering top spot in the Sky Bet Championship this week.

"We are not watching the table," he insisted. "We have to concentrate just on our games and trying to get three points. We have 23 games to play now so it's the same situation.

"We are disappointed because we didn't do well and we lost (on Boxing Day) but still I have a lot confidence in our team because I think that we are doing well and we have to carry on doing well."

Indeed, Benitez feels that it's Brighton who must cope with increased expectation now they are in pole position.

He said: "I think it will be good for them, a boost for them, but also more pressure.

"We have seen a lot of teams playing against us, when we were top of the table, giving 100 per cent in every game. Now maybe every team that will play against Brighton will see an opportunity to do something important, and there will be more pressure on them."