Newcastle scored four goals in 11 first-half minutes as they edged a seven-goal thriller against Nottingham Forest to boost their Champions League qualification hopes with a 4-3 home win.
Forest took a sixth-minute lead through Callum Hudson-Odoi but Lewis Miley’s 23rd-minute equaliser sparked a Newcastle flurry as Jacob Murphy completed the comeback two minutes later followed by Alexander Isak’s double, which saw him reach 50 Premier League goals.
But Forest threatened a stunning second-half comeback as Nikola Milenkovic pulled one back in the 63rd minute before Ryan Yates hit a 90th-minute goal as Newcastle survived a nervy ending to move up to fifth in the Premier League and level on points with fourth-placed Manchester City.
Forest, who remain third but are now only three points ahead of Newcastle, made a fast start at St James’ Park as Hudson-Odoi capitalised on Murphy’s error to fire in from outside the box.
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Callum Hudson-Odoi gives Nottingham Forest lead at Newcastle after poor defending from the home side
But on his first Premier League start of the season, Miley struck a low leveller before Murphy atoned for his error by bundling home Newcastle’s second two and a half minutes later.
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Lewis Miley gets Newcastle level
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Jacob Murphy fires Newcastle in front to complete the turnaround
The Magpies were then awarded a penalty after VAR sent referee Jarred Gillett to the pitchside monitor following an Ola Aina handball, and Isak converted the 33rd-minute spot-kick.
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A bizarre Alexander Isak penalty extended Newcastle lead
The Sweden international scored his second 111 seconds later with a cool one-on-one finish seeing him reach 50 Premier League goals in just 76 appearances – only six players in the competition’s history have hit that tally faster – while it was his 19th Premier League goal of the season, with only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (24) netting more.
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Alexander Isak made it four for Newcastle before half-time
Newcastle, however, took their foot off the gas in the second half as they failed to have a shot on target, allowing Forest to get themselves back into it as Milenkovic hooked home before Yates’ low finish set up a tense finish.
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Nikola Milenkovic flicked Nottingham Forest back into the contest
But Forest could not find a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser as they lost three straight away league games for the first time since December 2023.
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Ryan Yates gave Forest hope late on
