Newcastle United scored four goals within 11 minutes to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory over Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Sunday. This match not only marked Newcastle’s ascension to fifth place with 44 points from 26 games, but it also illustrated the stark contrasts of two halves of football.
Nottingham Forest, trailing only slightly with 47 points from the same number of matches, started on the front foot. They seized the lead early, just six minutes in, when Callum Hudson-Odoi executed a superb long-range shot, driving the ball low past Newcastle's goalkeeper Nick Pope. The confident start, unfortunately for Forest, was followed by a Newcastle inspiration.
After falling behind, the Magpies roared back, scoring four quick goals, turning the game around dramatically. First, 18-year-old Lewis Miley found the net at the 23rd minute, followed shortly by Jacob Murphy's effort—both goals reflecting Newcastle's increasing dominance. Alexander Isak then added to Forest's woes, converting a penalty awarded after VAR intervention when Ola Aina was deemed to have handled the ball. Isak's first penalty kick went straight down the middle and, though Matz Sels, the Forest goalkeeper, got his hand to it, he could not save the shot.
Isak wasn't done yet—he followed up with his 50th Premier League goal, deflecting the ball past Sels after timing his run perfectly. By halftime, Newcastle was leading 4-1, seemingly comfortable.
But the second half told another story entirely. Forest, growing stronger, seemed determined to fight back, creating many chances against what appeared to be nervous Newcastle backline. Twelve minutes after the break, Nikola Milenkovic scored for Forest, narrowing the gap to 4-2, which ramped up the tension at St James’ Park. The nervous atmosphere culminated when Ryan Yates netted during injury time, pushing the final score to 4-3, leaving the home supporters clinging onto their seats.
Reflecting on the match, Isak acknowledged the team’s performance, stating, “It was a brilliant first half, the reaction after conceding was really good. We dropped a bit second half and conceded sloppy goals. I’m obviously happy to win the game.” His views were echoed by manager Eddie Howe, who remarked on the unbelievable nature of the game, emphasizing the need for improvement, particularly highlighting the inconsistency shown from half to half.
Howe elaborated, saying, “Crazy game. We’ve seen the best of us and the worst of us, really, in two 45 minutes. I thought we were outstanding in the first half... But we didn’t sustain it in the second half. We lost momentum and then couldn’t recapture it.”
The match also featured significant VAR drama surrounding the penalty awarded to Newcastle. After initial disappointment when referee Jarred Gillett waved play on following Aina's handball, VAR responsible Peter Bankes instructed Gillett to review the incident. Upon checking, the referee deemed the handball worthy of punishment, which sparked discussions concerning officiate decisions for the encounter.
The Premier League later released a statement explaining, “VAR recommended an on-field review for possible handball by Aina — with his arm deemed to be in unnatural position.” Former footballers and pundits like Andy Hinchcliffe agreed with the decision, noting the circumstance surrounding Aina's body positioning made it hard for the refereeing team to overlook the infringement.
With this victory, Newcastle not only secured precious points but temporarily boosted their confidence after suffering unfortunate defeats against Bournemouth and Fulham. It also marked their resurgence as contenders for Champions League football. Having performed so well during the first half, the Magpies will need to balance their momentum to mitigate any second-half slumps moving forward.
Looking ahead, Howe's men will face Liverpool next, another tough fixture awaiting at Anfield. Yet, after the fervor of Sunday’s match, the challenge lies not just with the formidable opponents but managing their own on-field composure for the full length of the match. Newcastle’s performance emphasized this - showcasing the need for stamina, focus, and strategic precision beyond just short bursts of brilliance on the pitch.