Newcastle United pulled off a thrilling 4-3 victory against Nottingham Forest at St James' Park on February 23, 2025, keeping their hopes for Champions League qualification alive. The match showcased two very different halves of football, with Newcastle starting strong but almost squandering their lead by the end.
Forest began with determination, breaking the deadlock within the first six minutes of play. Callum Hudson-Odoi, making his return from injury, capitalized on Jacob Murphy's misplaced possession. He struck with precision, firing from outside the box to put Forest 1-0 up early on. No team had opened the scoring more times than Forest this season, but they faced the unique challenge of remembering the previous fixture against Newcastle, where they had also taken the lead only to lose.
Newcastle responded emphatically, turning the match around dramatically. Lewis Miley, just 18 years old and making his first Premier League start this season, leveled the match with his goal in the 23rd minute. After controlling Lewis Hall's cross, Miley unleashed a low strike through the crowded area, beating goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Then came the blitz. Jacob Murphy netted Newcastle's second just two minutes later, tapping the ball home after another smooth buildup. Alexander Isak joined the fray with two goals within eleven minutes, with his first coming from the penalty spot after VAR confirmed handball against Ola Aina. Isak confidently sent the ball to the center of the goal, scoring even with Sels getting his hand to it.
Isak followed this with his 50th Premier League goal, extending Newcastle's lead to 4-1 before the first half concluded. His initial shot, which deflected off a defender, added to the disarray experienced by Forest as the home side asserted their dominance.
Despite their poor performance during the first half, Forest made significant adjustments after half-time, creating multiple chances and putting Newcastle under pressure. Nikola Milenkovic began the comeback with his close-range flick to reduce the deficit. This goal ignited momentum for Forest, who began to capitalize on Newcastle's increasing defensive jitters.
Ryan Yates scored again for Forest as the match approached the 90-minute mark, tapping home after poor defending allowed him to take the shot. Suddenly, the visitors were within one goal, bringing palpable tension to the contest.
“It was brilliant first half, but we dropped off in the second half and conceded some sloppy goals,” Isak remarked after the game, acknowledging the notable shift in energy and focus.
Forest's strong second-half performance was underscored by manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who noted the distinct contrasts between the halves. “We started well, we scored, and they just rolled over us. There was nothing else in the first half about us,” he admitted. “But we came back and were much improved after the half-time break.”
Newcastle had previously lost focus and nearly let the game slip away, but key players held onto the win. The match statistics revealed five shots on target for Newcastle before halftime, but none afterward as Forest monopolized the chances. Yet, Newcastle's initial performance had ensured their third points, propelling them back to the upper half of the league table and keeping their Champions League aspirations alive.
This match emphasized the dichotomy of both teams’ performances, with Newcastle still learning how to maintain control, especially as they prepare for future encounters, including the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. Meanwhile, Forest, though facing two defeats back-to-back, displayed resilience and grit, delicately straddling the line between results and performance as they aim to secure their position within the Champions League spots.
With these points, Newcastle moved to fifth with 44 points from 26 games, maintaining pressure on top teams around them, showing promise for the future.