EPL: Newcastle United Edge Thrilling 4-3 Win Over Nottingham Forest

Newcastle United secured a thrilling 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest, with Alexander Isak scoring twice to help his side move fifth in the Premier League.

Newcastle United withstood a late surge from Nottingham Forest to emerge victorious in a thrilling 4-3 encounter at St James' Park. The win was fueled by Alexander Isak's brace, which saw him become the seventh-fastest player in Premier League history to reach 50 goals.

Nottingham Forest drew first blood, with Callum Hudson-Odoi making a swift impact on his return from injury. Just seven minutes into the match, Hudson-Odoi dispossessed Jacob Murphy and unleashed a low, long-range shot that evaded the outstretched glove of Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, who was also returning from injury.

Nottingham Forest have been prolific at breaking the deadlock in the Premier League, doing so more times than any other team (20). However, their inability to capitalize on this advantage was evident in the reverse fixture against Newcastle, and it proved to be the case again in this match.

Newcastle United turned the game around in stunning fashion, scoring two goals in the space of two minutes to take the lead. Lewis Miley, making his first Premier League start of the season, equalized in the 23rd minute with a clinical finish from inside the box, capitalizing on a set-piece that had been kept alive. Before Forest could recover, Newcastle launched a swift counter-attack, with Alexander Isak's clever backheel finding Lewis Hall, whose deflected pass looped over goalkeeper Matz Sels, allowing Jacob Murphy to tap in.

Lewis Hall was instrumental again minutes later, as his involvement led to a VAR review for a potential handball by Ola Aina. After a lengthy check, the referee awarded a penalty, which Alexander Isak confidently converted, shooting high down the middle. Despite Sels getting a hand to the ball, it ended up in the back of the net, giving Newcastle a 3-1 lead.

Newcastle United's relentless pressure continued to bear fruit as they caught Nottingham Forest off guard once again. A swift breakaway led to Alexander Isak's shot finding the net via a deflection off Murillo, further extending Newcastle's lead. Before the break, Matz Sels made a crucial close-range save to deny Jacob Murphy, but it seemed unlikely that Forest would be able to mount a comeback.

We've just been treated to a remarkable match at St James' Park 🎬#NEWNFO pic.twitter.com/Ia1F8yU1J9

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 23, 2025

Despite their dominance, Newcastle were denied a fifth goal when Fabian Schär's looping header struck the post after the restart. However, Nottingham Forest began to show signs of life, with Anthony Elanga's miscued volley and Nikola Milenković's improvised flick threatening the Newcastle goal. Milenković's effort ultimately found the net, reducing the deficit and giving Forest a glimmer of hope.

As the match entered its final stages, Forest's momentum continued to build. A goalline block from Fabian Schär fell to Ryan Yates, who turned the ball home to set up a thrilling conclusion. Despite their valiant efforts, Forest's poor start to the match ultimately proved costly, as they conceded four goals in the space of 11 first-half minutes. Newcastle's emphatic response, however, ensured that they avoided a fourth loss in five Premier League games, keeping them in contention for a return to UEFA Champions League football. The win propelled Newcastle to fifth in the table, just three points behind third-placed Forest.