The tired clearances at the death, the deafening whistles from Geordies urging referee Jarred Gillett to blow up, the guttural roar at full-time….this really did feel like a six-pointer at St James’ Park. No wonder there were one or two relieved expletives when Eddie Howe greeted chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan following Newcastle United’s 4-3 victory against Nottingham Forest.
Alexander Isak acknowledged that Newcastle wanted to win ‘more comfortably’ – the Magpies had gone into half-time with a three-goal advantage, after all – but the striker nonetheless hailed a ‘big’ victory. Fellow goal scorer Lewis Miley echoed those thoughts, calling the triumph a ‘really big win’, before reiterating that returning to the Champions League was ‘where we want to get to as a team’ after Newcastle moved within three points of third place. However, to get back to Europe’s top table, Newcastle not only have to be consistent week-to-week but in games, too.
In truth, this was a match that showcased the Jekyll and Hyde. After recovering from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s early opener, spirited Newcastle blew Nottingham Forest away with four goals in just 11 minutes in the first half. This spell was the Magpies at their aggressive best; even Nottingham Forest, who possess one of the finest away records in the league, could not handle the rampant hosts.
However, after the break, Newcastle dropped off and Nuno was hardly speaking out of turn when the Nottingham Forest boss said the visitors ‘won the duels’ and ‘got on top’. Nottingham Forest even bullied Newcastle at set-plays to score two goals from corner kicks and Howe’s side certainly can’t afford to let that happen at Anfield on Wednesday night.
“I want to see the same characteristics in the team that we did in the first half,” the Newcastle boss said. “That’s the thing. You don’t want to be blown off course by the score line or a moment in the second half going against us. That’s always my priority. We need to know when we go to Liverpool what we’re going to get.”
Those final words spoke volumes. In truth, it was not entirely clear what version of Newcastle were going to show up on Sunday after the black-and-whites somehow conceded from their own throw-in inside six minutes. Rather than going forward, Tino Livramento threw the ball to Jacob Murphy, who was facing his own goal, and the winger took far too casual a touch inside his own half. Callum Hudson-Odoi pounced, raced towards goal and let fly with a whipped effort from distance that appeared to catch Nick Pope cold. St James’ Park was stunned.
However, there is a reason why Newcastle have clawed back more points (18) from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League and Howe’s team drew level midway through the first half. Lewis Hall’s low cross was taken down by Lewis Miley inside the box and the midfielder lashed the ball past Matz Sels to level it up.
It was Miley’s first Premier League goal in 15 months, but the youngster was not getting carried away. In fact, once the ball hit the net, Miley was among those on his way back to his own half for the restart. The message was clear: Newcastle wanted another.
The Magpies were in front just a couple of minutes later. Hall played a one-two with Alexander Isak down the left and the defender’s deflected cross looped over Sels. There was Murphy at the back post to knock the ball into the net and turn the game on its head.
Newcastle were not finished yet; the black-and-whites were just getting started. Hall once again caused problems down the left and the England international’s cross was blocked by the outstretched elbow of Ola Aina. Jarred Gillett did not give the penalty, initially, but the referee pointed to the spot after consulting his pitchside monitor.
Up stepped Isak, who opted to chip the ball down the middle. Although Sels got a hand to it, the ball and the former Newcastle ‘keeper both ended up in the net. Isak wheeled away in delight and the Newcastle star was celebrating a second a minute later.
Hall was involved yet again after the left-back’s pass sent Joe Willock racing down the channel. The midfielder threaded the ball through to Isak inside the box and the Sweden star’s shot took a deflection off Murillo’s boot and beat Sels to put Newcastle 4-1 up.
No wonder Newcastle were applauded off the field at the break and the Magpies looked well-placed to further extend their lead after the break. In fact, the second half had barely got under way when Fabian Schar’s header cannoned back off the post.
Yet Newcastle, inexplicably, let Nottingham Forest back into it. Newcastle may statistically be one of the best sides at defending set-plays in the Premier League, but you would not have known it midway through the second half.
Nick Pope roared “AWAY!” as Elliot Anderson swung the corner into the box, but the ball was headed on to Chris Wood at the far post and the former Newcastle striker hooked it back across. There was Nikola Milenkovic to pull one back with a clever improvised finish with his heel.
Just as Dan Burn grabbed the ball out of the net after Newcastle equalised in the first half, Milenkovic did likewise at 4-2. Nottingham Forest sensed a dramatic comeback was on and the visitors set up a grandstand finish right at the death.
Newcastle were again undone by a corner kick and another near-post flick-on. Fabian Schar managed to block Morgan Gibbs-White’s initial effort, but the ball fell to substitute Ryan Yates, who could hardly miss from point-blank range. A further three minutes of stoppage time were added on, but Newcastle survived. Just.
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