First-half blitz gives Newcastle United a ‘hectic’ 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest

NEWCASTLE – Newcastle United blew Nottingham Forest away with four goals in 12 minutes as Alexander Isak’s double inspired a “hectic” 4-3 win in the race to finish in the English Premier League’s top four.

Eddie Howe’s side recovered from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s early opener to run riot with a first-half goal spree at St James’ Park on Feb 23.

Lewis Miley bagged Newcastle’s equaliser, sparking an astonishing spell of dominance as Jacob Murphy put the hosts ahead. Isak netted twice in less than two minutes to reach 50 Premier League goals and leave Forest in tatters.

The Sweden striker has 19 league goals this season, taking him level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in second place, behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in this season’s scoring charts.

Isak told Sky Sports: “It was a brilliant first half, the reaction after conceding was really good. We dropped a bit second half and conceded sloppy goals... 

“The most important thing was to win. We want to win more comfortably, but it was a big win.”

Miley added: “I’d describe it as a hectic game. We played really well in the first half and put ourselves under pressure in the second. I’m really glad we’ve got the win. We’re pushing for Europe now.”

Nikola Milenkovic and Ryan Yates scored for Forest in the second half, but it was too late for an incredible escape act.

After three defeats in their previous four league games, fifth-placed Newcastle are back in the hunt to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish.

The Magpies are behind fourth-placed Manchester City on goal difference ahead of the champions’ Feb 23 clash with leaders Liverpool, which finished after press time. Third-placed Forest are just three points above Newcastle.

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope made his first league start since early December in place of Martin Dubravka. But Pope was partially at fault as Newcastle gifted Forest the lead in sloppy style after just six minutes.

Murphy lost the ball in his own half as Hudson-Odoi pressured the Newcastle midfielder into conceding possession. Hudson-Odoi was not closed down quickly enough by Dan Burn and the winger unloaded a powerful low drive that caught Pope out of position as it flashed into the net.

Midfielder Miley ensured Newcastle’s strong response to that early setback was rewarded in the 23rd minute.

With Forest’s usually rock-solid defence slow to react, Miley had time to control Lewis Hall’s pass inside the penalty area and drill his shot through a sea of legs past unsighted goalkeeper Matz Sels.

Murphy made amends for his earlier mistake to put Howe’s team ahead two minutes after Miley’s equaliser. Hall’s driving run was the catalyst, as the defender took Isak’s return pass and hit a deflected cross that looped over Sels for Murphy to bundle home from virtually on the goal-line.

Newcastle were firing on all cylinders and they struck again in the 33rd minute. Ola Aina used his arm to block Hall’s cross, conceding a penalty that Isak dispatched past Sels with an audacious lofted effort that left the keeper sprawled on his back as he tried in vain to claw it out.

Forest had no answer to Newcastle’s intensity and it was no surprise when they conceded a fourth just 60 seconds later.

Joe Willock raced unchecked through the Forest midfield and slipped his pass to Isak, whose shot from 12 metres took a deflection on its way past the wrong-footed Sels.

Newcastle’s Fabian Schar headed Hall’s cross against the post, but the Magpies eased up in the second half. Milenkovic reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute, flicking Chris Wood’s cross past Pope from close range.

When Yates steered home in the 90th minute, a nervous hush descended on St James’ Park, but Newcastle held on by their fingernails.

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo told Sky Sports: “In the first half, I didn’t recognise our team. In the second half, we were much better... I wish there was 10 minutes added on. We needed that time. We were on top, Newcastle were on the ropes.” AFP