EPL: Isak’s double fires Newcastle to dramatic 4-3 win over Forest
Newcastle blew Nottingham Forest away with four goals in 11 minutes as Alexander Isak’s double inspired a vital 4-3 win in the race to finish in the 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 Sunday.
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, leaving Forest in tatters.
The Swedish striker has 19 league goals this season, putting him level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in second place behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the scoring charts.
Nikola Milenkovic and Ryan Yates scored for Forest in the second half, but it was too late for an incredible comeback.
After three defeats in their previous four league games, fifth-placed Newcastle are back in contention to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish.
The Magpies are behind fourth-placed Manchester City on goal difference, with third-placed Forest just three points ahead.
“I’m trying to control my thoughts and stay positive. We won the game, and that’s what we needed to do,” Howe said.
“It was a great performance in the first half, but a couple of frailties showed in terms of defending set-pieces.
“We can reflect on that. There are things we can do better. We pride ourselves on getting the details right.”
Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo added: “In the first half, I didn’t recognise our team. In the second half, we were much better.
“We made mistakes. It was two totally different halves. We started well, and then they just rolled over us.”
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope made his first league start since early December, replacing Martin Dúbravka.
However, Pope was partially at fault as Newcastle gifted Forest the lead in sloppy fashion after just six minutes.
Jacob Murphy lost the ball in his own half as Hudson-Odoi pressured the Newcastle midfielder into conceding possession.
Hudson-Odoi wasn’t closed down quickly enough by Dan Burn, and the winger unleashed a powerful low drive that caught Pope out of position as it flashed into the net.
Miley ensured Newcastle’s strong response to that early setback was rewarded in the 23rd minute.
Newcastle Hold On
With Forest’s usually 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 the unsighted goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Murphy made amends for his earlier mistake by putting Howe’s team ahead two minutes after Miley’s equaliser.
Hall’s driving run was the catalyst as the defender played a return pass to Isak before hitting a deflected cross that looped over Sels, allowing Murphy to bundle the ball home from virtually on the goal line.
Newcastle were firing on all cylinders and 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, leaving 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 a pass to Isak, whose shot from 12 yards took a deflection on its way past the wrong-footed Sels.
Newcastle eased up in the second half, and 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.
AFP
