Player ratings as late Isak penalty seals comeback win

Newcastle moved to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League table with a last-gasp win at Nottingham Forest.

Eddie Howe’s side fell behind early on but kept their heads at a raucous City Ground on Friday night, condemning Steve Cooper’s men to their first home defeat since September.

The visitors should have broken the deadlock with just five minutes on the clock. Kieran Trippier managed to release Jacob Murphy down the right flank, running in behind Renan Lodi and drawing a the attention of Moussa Niakhate. His cross picked out Joe Willock just outside the six yard box, who fired over with the imposing figure of Ryan Yates breathing down his neck.

Newcastle went even closer minutes later. A cleverly-worked free-kick saw Trippier pass the ball under the wall to Alexander Isak, whose close-range shot was deflected onto the bar by Lodi and held by Keylor Navas.

At the other end, Forest’s first sight of goal came when Brennan Johnson shimmied in from the right wing and struck a swerving shot at Nick Pope, who did well to read the flight of the ball and hold onto the effort.

Despite being the inferior of the two sides early on, Forest took the lead midway through the first half. Sven Botman’s hospital pass back to Pope was intercepted by Emmanuel Dennis, who was forced wide with the ball but did well to chip the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and retreating Trippier on the line.

The Magpies rattled the woodwork for a second time in the first half when Sean Longstaff’s strike from 20 yards looped up off of the ankle of Felipe, bewildering Navas but gracefully ricocheting back off the bar and out to safety.

On the eve of the break, Newcastle found a leveller. Forest were caught napping with several players up the pitch, allowing Willock to sprint in behind and cross for Isak, who produced a wonderfully improvised finish with his shin, his effort bouncing in off the far post.

Howe’s men went close to taking the lead soon after the restart. A deep cross from Trippier was met by substitute Elliot Anderson, and his wicked volley was parried over by Navas.

The youngster wasn’t to be denied by Navas at his second attempt. Forest failed to clear their lines and Isak was able to dig out a cross towards the back post, with Anderson rising above Serge Aurier to head home. However, after a lengthy VAR check, Longstaff was judged to have been offside when Isak’s initial ball across ball was played in, and he became active when retrieving failed…