Nuno Espirito Santo has suggested Newcastle United got very lucky with one decision in 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest – and it’s not the penalty they won. He might have a point.
Newcastle United just about managed to get back to winning ways on Sunday when they scrapped past Nottingham Forest 4-3 in a match that should have been much more comfortable than it was.
Eddie Howe’s side actually went behind when Callum Hudson-Odoi capitalised on a poor Jacob Muprhy touch and bad positioning from Nick Pope to find the bottom corner.
Newcastle were unsettled but grew into the game and turned things around with a whirlwind 11 minutes in which they scored four times.
Lewis Miley grabbed the leveller before Murphy made amends to put Toon ahead before a fortunate Alexander Isak double completed the comeback, with the excellent Lewis Hall involved in all four goals.
What should have been a comfortable second half was anything but, though, as Forest came out fighting after the break while Newcastle struggled to manage the game.
Yet more poor defending saw Nikola Milenkovic pull one back before Ryan Yates finally made it 4-3 on the cusp of 90 minutes.
With Forest on top, they looked destined to get a dramatic equaliser, yet their hopes took a blow when only three minutes were added on.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes if his side had more time, they would have found a fourth.
Nottingham Forest could have levelled if given more time vs Newcastle
Given there were seven minutes added on at the end of the first half, Forest stakeholders could have been forgiven for thinking they’d get a bit more time at the end of the match.
Espirito Santo was visibly annoyed when the fourth official’s board indicated it would be a mere three minutes added and has now suggested Newcastle were lucky it wasn’t more.
He told Sky Sports after the match: “First half, clearly Newcastle better. Second half was better but unfortunately not enough. Too bad, too soon.
“It’s about trying to settle down, calm down and try to be ourselves. In the first half I didn’t recognise our team In the second half we were much better.
“I don’t know, this is what I’m going to work on now. This is a game which is good to reflect on.
“We made mistakes. Newcastle made mistakes also. But it was two totally different halves. We started well, we scored, and they just rolled over us.
“There was nothing else in the first half about us. Every time Newcastle had the ball they scored.
“I wish there was 10 minutes added on. We needed that time. We were on top, Newcastle were on the ropes. With 10 minutes I think we can get something from this game.”
Eddie Howe names Newcastle’s biggest weakness vs Forest
Howe, who Newcastle fans weren’t happy with before the match, cut a relieved and frustrated figure after the game as he struggled to celebrate after watching his side come so close to throwing it away.
So much so that the manager even admitted it still feels like a defeat and he has named the defending at set pieces as the biggest problem on a wild afternoon at St. James’ Park.
He told Sky Sports: “Great to win. You have to remember that at the end. Crazy game, but that’s why we love it I suppose.
“Two sides of us. The first half was excellent. A great response to going down. The second half was equally bad really. We struggled to get to grips with the momentum when it turned against us.
“At our best we’re free-flowing, an attacking team, dynamic. You saw the best of us in the first half.
“My brain goes to the second half. We weren’t perfect. The defending of set-plays and crosses into the box, we’ve usually been quite good at that over the years. On a snap reaction, that’s what I’ll say.
“It’s a feeling we have to remember. It feels like we lost the game, but we won the game and got points over Nottingham Forest.”
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
