We love our 4-3s! Newcastle 4 Nottingham Forest 3 | OneFootball

Newcastle 4 Nottingham Forest 3 – Sunday 23 February 2025 2pm

A devastating blast of four goals in 12 first-half minutes blew away one of the Premier League’s best defences and boosted United’s Champions League prospects.

Eddie Howe was without two of his three normal midfield starters but the absence of Joelinton and Tonali against a dynamic-looking Forest proved to be no sort of handicap in the opening half.

United pressed from the kick-off, as the manager would have wanted.

They conceded against the run of play, however, when Murphy was robbed 35 yards out on our right by Hudson-Odoi. He advanced and fired a raking low shot beyond Pope. The keeper got nowhere near it, probably unsighted by Burn and caught off-balance by the early shot.

One down in six minutes was not what the doctor ordered but United were battering the visitors, especially down our left. Hall, Willock and Gordon were seeing plenty of the ball and the equaliser 15 minutes later was the least we deserved.

Referee Gillett, who recently seems to have decided most fouls should be penalised, noticed a nasty kick by Aina on Gordon. The in-swinging free kick by Hall was never properly cleared and, when Miley collected the ball 25 yards out, he didn’t hesitate. One touch with his right foot to control, one majestic sweep with his left to fire it through the massed defence and into the far corner. If the mark of a great player is the ability to find time and space when few others can, 18-year-old Miley will have a wonderful career. On his first Premier League start of the season, he was outstanding in the opening half.

Two minutes later United were ahead and the goal was redemption for Murphy after a difficult start. He bundled the ball into the Gallowgate End net with his knee from a yard out after more good work by Hall on the left.

United doubled the advantage once VAR intervened to correct Gillett. Hall fired in a cross from the left that Aina blocked with a flying elbow. The referee signalled play-on until he was sent to the screen. A penalty was the inevitable outcome and Isak the almost inevitable scorer, with a shot straight down the middle that flew into the top of the net, above the despairing Sels.

Two minutes later Isak scored his 50th Premier League goal, cutting in from the left and firing a deflected effort over the hapless keeper.

United looked capable of adding to their tally from every swift attack but Forest held on until the interval.

The second half started with no personnel changes. Schar went within inches of scoring when his header from a corner rattled the far post soon after the restart with Sels well-beaten.

Forest were fired up, however, and quickly seized the initiative. They peppered the home goal and got their reward through a Milenkovic back-heel from a corner on 63 minutes. Miley would have wanted to do better with his challenge.

Howe had seen enough, replacing Murphy and Willock with Barnes and Tonali seven minutes later. The visitors continued to press and they made enough chances to equalise. Their finishing was wayward, thankfully, though the second half was not an easy watch.

It became even more difficult when substitute Yates scored from another corner in the 90th minute.

By then, Wilson had replaced a tiring Isak. Our normally bustling No 9 looked way off the pace, being dispossessed several times as he caught the same bug that had seen his teammates lose control after the interval.

Few members of the Toon Army would have thought at half-time that they would be screaming for the final whistle.

United had been far superior in the first half but in a classic game of two halves they were outplayed in the second.

Credit Forest for never giving up. They gave us a severe test and our defending, especially from corners, will need to be far better at Anfield on Wednesday.

For now, be thankful for a massive three points. With Saturday’s results falling in our favour, the Champions League is again a realistic aim.

Newcastle 4 Nottingham Forest 3 – Sunday 23 February 2025 2pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Miley 23, Murphy 25, Isak 33 pen, 34

Hudson-Odoi 6, Milenkovic 63, Yates 90

Possession was Newcastle 57% Forest 43%

Total shots were Newcastle 13 Forest 17

Shots on target were Newcastle 5 Forest 5

Corners were Newcastle 7 Forest 6

Touches in the box Newcastle 34 Forest 26

Newcastle team v Forest:

Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Bruno, Miley, Willock (Tonali 70), Gordon, Isak (Wilson 87), Murphy (Barnes 70)

Subs:

Dubravka, Longstaff, Krafth, Targett, Osula, Trippier

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Wednesday 26 February – Liverpool v Newcastle (8.15pm) TNT Sports

Sunday 1 March –  Newcastle v Brighton (1.45pm) FA Cup fifth round – ITV1

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports