Newcastle 4-3 Nottingham Forest (Miley 23′, Murphy 25′, Isak 33′ pen, 34′ | Hudson-Odoi 6′, Milenkovic 63′, Yates 90′)
ST JAMES’ PARK — This surreal St James’ Park afternoon summed up the current state of play at Newcastle United perfectly.
Devastating for 30 minutes as they responded to a self-inflicted blow, Eddie Howe’s side made tortuously hard work of a second half in which they toyed with the prospect of frittering away the momentum generated by another double from the electric Alexander Isak.
It was a win – a significant one – but when will the real Newcastle stand up?
In front of watching chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) present for the first time in a year, it felt appropriate that the final whistle was met with relief rather than elation.
The Magpies are up to fifth, have the best striker in the Premier League and a chance to make history at Wembley in a few weeks, but things still feel on a knife edge.
Al-Rumayyan’s visit is significant. He is in town partly to make a call on the future of St James’ Park, with plans for a new build at nearby Leazes Park a compelling alternative.
Newcastle is obsessed by the issue, partly because it is freighted with emotion and history but also as it strikes at the heart of where this project is really heading.
If the ownership are not prepared to write a big cheque to solve the issue once and for all, it will feel like a reality check.
At the moment Howe’s team embody that uncertainty. In equal parts lethal and lackadaisical, no team can match them with the urgency that lifted them during a lightning 11-minute first-half spell that ultimately won them this contest.
But when they slumber as they did in the second half, they run the risk of mediocrity.
Letting Nottingham Forest back into this game was alarming and much at stake in coming weeks, it is no wonder the Tyneside mood slips into anxiety so easily.
“It was a crazy game. You’ve seen the best of us and the worst of us in two 45 minute spells,” Howe said.
He spoke of needing to find “context” and a middle ground despite the errors. They did win, despite their difficulties getting over the line.
The day began with Newcastle shooting themselves in the foot: Jacob Murphy ceding possession too easily to allow Callum Hudson-Odoi to fire past a woefully out-of-position Nick Pope.
Character was required and Newcastle showed that in abundance. No-one summed that up more than Murphy, who rarely goes missing.
Whatever the winger’s shortcomings, there is an admirable bravery about a player trying to play his way out of a bad start.
Lewis Miley levelled with a smart strike. He is only 18 but it says a lot about his mentality that he is capable of turning a game like he did here.
That sparked a barmy spell in which Newcastle scored three more times, Isak setting up Lewis Hall for a run and cross which was converted by Murphy before plundering two goals himself.
The second, a Panenka penalty, showcased the self-belief that has pushed the Swede to 50 goals in just 76 Newcastle games.
Player of the match: Alexander Isak
- An assist, two goals and attacking intent that proves the difference in the biggest of games.
And then a second half near-collapse brought bad memories of a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City the previous week back to the fore.
“It’s happened too many times, the inconsistency,” Howe said.
He will get back to work finding “solutions” but with Liverpool at Anfield in midweek, there is precious little margin for error.
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