Newcastle United delivered a thrilling first-half display at St James’ Park on Sunday, heading into the break with a commanding 4-1 lead after a sensational 14-minute flurry of goals. The Magpies initially found themselves trailing but responded emphatically, turning the contest on its head with strikes from Lewis Miley, Jacob Murphy, and a clinical brace from Alexander Isak. Their attacking dominance appeared to have all but secured three crucial points by halftime.
However, the game took a different turn in the second half, as Nottingham Forest mounted a spirited response. A goal from Nicola Milenkovic just after the hour mark narrowed the deficit, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope. That hope intensified when Ryan Yates found the net in the 90th minute, cutting Newcastle’s advantage to just a single goal. Despite the late scare, Eddie Howe’s side managed to see out the remaining moments and secure a much-needed victory—their first Premier League win on home soil since January 15.
Reflecting on the performance during a post-match interview with BBC Radio Five Live, Howe acknowledged the mixed emotions surrounding the result. “I’m trying to control my thoughts and stay positive,” the Newcastle boss admitted. “Winning was the priority today, and we achieved that. Our first-half performance was excellent, a complete contrast to how we played at Manchester City. We showed attacking intent, creativity, and control in possession.”
While pleased with the team’s offensive output, Howe conceded that there were clear areas for improvement. “We didn’t manage the game as well as we should have in the second half, particularly when it came to defending set-pieces,” he noted. “When you get the win but still have things to work on, that’s a good position to be in. We’ll analyze those moments and strive to get the details right because that’s something we pride ourselves on.”
A drop in tempo was perhaps inevitable after Newcastle’s blistering opening 45 minutes, in which they found the net four times in quick succession. With an intense fixture schedule, including a high-profile clash against Liverpool on Wednesday night, squad management and player fatigue were also key considerations for Howe. The rapid turnaround meant that balancing intensity and control was always going to be a challenge, and in the latter stages of the match, Nottingham Forest took advantage of Newcastle’s diminishing grip on proceedings.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team grew in confidence as the game wore on, sensing an opportunity for an unlikely comeback. By the time the final whistle blew, a collective sigh of relief could be felt around St James’ Park. Newcastle legend Alan Shearer encapsulated the nervous energy of the closing minutes with a post on X (formerly Twitter), simply writing: ‘Pheewwwwwww!!!! #NEWNOT’—a sentiment echoed by many Magpies supporters.
Attention now swiftly turns to a crucial midweek encounter against Liverpool at Anfield, a venue where Newcastle have endured decades of frustration. The Magpies have not claimed a Premier League victory there in over 30 years, a record they will be desperate to break. Adding extra intrigue to the fixture, this showdown serves as a dress rehearsal for next month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley, where the two sides will battle for silverware.
With a tight turnaround between matches, Howe and his coaching staff will need to carefully manage their squad to ensure they are at peak condition for the challenge ahead. Having secured a confidence-boosting win against Nottingham Forest, Newcastle will now set their sights on an even bigger test against the league leaders, knowing that a positive result could serve as a major statement of intent for the remainder of their campaign.
Alan Shearer makes instant one-word Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest reaction all fans will agree with
