Newcastle United just about got back to winning ways on Sunday as they defeated Nottingham Forest 4-3 in a fantastic game of football.
Things actually couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for Newcastle United as Jacob Murphy gave the ball away which allowed Callum Hudson-Odoi to waltz through and put Nottingham Forest ahead after five minutes.
The mistake seemed to unnerve Eddie Howe’s side and frustrations were palpable from the St. James’ Park faithful but that all turned around in an 11-minute stretch.
It was the bright Lewis Miley who dragged Newcastle level with a fine finish before Murphy made amends as he ensured the ball crossed the line to put his side ahead.
Alexander Isak then grabbed two goals in one minute to complete the turnaround before the halftime whistle.
Forest came out firing after the break as Newcastle’s performance level dropped and pulled a deserved goal back after they capitalised on some more poor defending for Nikola Milenkovic to flick home.
A nervy twenty minutes followed and Forest finally made it 4-3 in the 90th minute through Ryan Yates to set up a tense final stage. Thankfully, there wasn’t enough time for them to find a dramatic equaliser.
Here’s how the players rated.
Nick Pope – 5
Finally back in the side after winning his spot back from Martin Dubravka but didn’t look like he’d earned it. Nick Pope left over half of his goal exposed with some questionable positioning to let Hudson-Odoi find the back of the net.
There was some worryingly wayward distribution, too, that could have proved costly if Newcastle hadn’t secured a big lead. His saves were loose and he often looked uncomfortable. Dubravka might have a case of earning his spot back.
Tino Livramento – 7
Though Kieran Trippier was excellent against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final win, this performance showed just how much more Tino Livramento brings to the side. Especially in a back-four.
With his pace and constant willingness to use it going forward, he helped stretch the Forest defence which quickly became overrun. Mostly good at the back but made a big risk when he lost the ball in a dangerous position late on but Hall had his back.
Fabian Schar – 5
Bizarre positioning for the opener. Fabian Schar was so far to the right that he left a gaping chasm for Hudson-Odoi to stroll into and casually find the bottom corner. He only got remotely close to the vicinity when the ball had crossed the line.
Recovered to be solid in open play though didn’t do much to prevent Forest’s aerial threat at set pieces and couldn’t clear the ball as Forest found a third.
Dan Burn – 6
Met his match physically in the towering Chris Wood and had a dodgy afternoon at points.
It was his terrible pass that led to the corner Forest got a second from and he nearly played them back through with a loose touch seconds later, only to make a good challenge to stop the danger.
Like Schar, allowed Forest to have several free headers but got away with it.
Lewis Hall – 10
The player of the match and absolutely vital to Newcastle’s turnaround, which looked unlikely at one point. Lewis Hall was everywhere and involved in all four goals.
It was his accurate cross to Miley that set up the opener, a positive run that helped make the second, his cross was handled to win the penalty and then it was his excellent pass on the break to set Willock away to set up the fourth.
With tireless tracking back and resolute defending – including one perfectly-timed slide tackle in the box – there’s not much more you could want from such a sublime left-back performance.
Lewis Miley – 7
Miley was the surprise name in the team sheet for his first Premier League start of the season and he proved Howe’s risk of leaving Sandro Tonali on the bench a master stroke.
The teenager was the one bright spark when the Magpies were struggling early on with positive passes and efforts on goal so it was no surprise when he grabbed the equaliser. It was a fine finish into the far corner after a sublime first touch.
He was bright throughout and battled hard when backs were against the wall.
Bruno Guimaraes – 6
Back in the defensive midfield role and understandably not as influential going forward as he has been and the Brazilian also struggled initially against a combative midfield. However, he too grew into the game and began to dominate the midfield battle in the first half.
Found himself unable to get on the ball and control the game as Forest came out fighting in the second and Tonali was needed to provide more protection. Wasteful on the ball on the rare chances he got with it, too.
Joe Willock – 8
Joe Willock kept his place despite a dreadful display vs Manchester City last week and repaid the faith shown in him by Howe.
He was all action in the middle of the park, with his running from deep constantly carving open the Forest back-line. He kept a dead ball alive which led to the leveller and then grabbed an assist for the fourth with a lovely through ball.
Jacob Murphy – 7
An erratic and nervy start to the game after his poor touch on the ball gave it away for Forest to go through and score. He was clearly unsettled by the early mistake, with some strange decision-making and sloppy crossing coming afterwards.
However, Murphy got his redemption when he managed to smuggle in the second goal and you could almost see his typical game return like it does to the basketball stars in Space Jam.
Suddenly, he was back to his best with flicks and tricks bamboozling defenders and only a good save denied him a second before the break.
Alexander Isak – 8
Not his best performance by any means yet he still managed to score twice and was involved in another. Even if he was fortunate with his lofted penalty that was almost saved and his deflected finish.
Yet, when you’re that good and work so hard you create luck. Besides, there was nothing lucky about his work in the second goal, which was some proper centre-forward play as he won the ball, held it up and then back-heeled it into Hall’s path.
Kept quiet in the second half and hardly had a touch but his goals have seen Isak make history as he has become the highest-scoring Swede in Premier League history.
Anthony Gordon – 6
With sloppy early deliveries he was another who didn’t start the game on fire but he never really got going. There were some nice touches and passes, with one helping create a goal, but he never really took the game by the scruff as he has so often this season. A quiet afternoon.
Substitutes
Sandro Tonali – 7
Brought on with 20 minutes remaining to help stem the Forest resistance and managed to do so by protecting the defence and helping slow the game down.
Harvey Barnes – 6
Back in action for the first time since January and looked sharp on the right wing as he jinked past defenders and looked to add a fifth.
Callum Wilson – 5
Couldn’t make the most of his chances on the ball
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