Newcastle United put in a dazzling first-half display, scoring four goals in 11 minutes to claim a vital 4-3 victory over Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Sunday, keeping their hopes alive for a top-four Premier League finish.
The match kicked off with a shock, as Callum Hudson-Odoi gave Forest the lead just six minutes in. A defensive error from Newcastle saw Jacob Murphy lose possession in midfield, allowing Hudson-Odoi to score a powerful low shot past Nick Pope.
However, Newcastle bounced back quickly, with Lewis Miley’s 23rd-minute equalizer. The hosts’ momentum grew, and just two minutes later, Jacob Murphy made up for his earlier mistake, putting the Magpies ahead. Then, Alexander Isak took charge, scoring twice in less than two minutes to reach his 50th Premier League goal, leaving Forest in disarray.
Isak’s brace, combined with a penalty in the 33rd minute, put Newcastle 4-1 up before halftime. Joe Willock was the catalyst for Isak’s second, slipping him a through-ball that deflected into the net off the Forest defense.
Forest attempted a second-half fightback with goals from Nikola Milenkovic (63rd minute) and Ryan Yates (90th minute), but it wasn’t enough. Despite some defensive frailties, Newcastle held on for the win, which propelled them back into contention for a Champions League spot. They sit just behind fourth-placed Manchester City on goal difference and only three points behind third-placed Forest.
Eddie Howe praised the first-half performance but acknowledged areas for improvement, especially in set-piece defending. “It was a great performance in the first half, but we made a few mistakes we need to work on,” Howe said.
Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo, reflecting on the match, said: “We made mistakes, and in the first half, we were nowhere near our best. The second half was much better, but by then it was too late.”
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope made his first league start since December, but was partly to blame for the early goal. Despite that, the Magpies’ attacking power was on full display, with Isak’s 19th league goal of the season bringing him level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in second place on the Premier League scoring charts.
Newcastle’s victory marked a crucial step in their bid to secure Champions League football for next season.
