It was a memorable afternoon for Nottingham Forest and former Newcastle United man Chris Wood as his hat-trick helped Forest to beat Newcastle 3-1 at St James Park. Wood’s hat-trick completed the turn around after Alexander Isak scored from the spot to put the North East side ahead. It’s just a fourth win of the season for Forest and just a third league away win this calendar year.
Eddie Howe made two changes from the side that lost away to Luton Town. Former Forest man Jamal Lascelles came dropped out of defence for Sven Botman and Callum Wilson dropped to the bench and was replaced by Isak. Nuno Espírito Santo made six changes from the side that were beat at home by Bournemouth. In form full back pair Harry Toffolo and Neco Williams came out the side as they were replaced by Ola Aina and Gonzalo Montiel. Willy Boly, Orel Mangala, Ryan Yates and Divock Origi also came out the side and were all replaced by Moussa Niakhate, Danilo, Ibrahim Sangare and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The visitors came closest to scoring at the start. Morgan Gibbs-White managing to win the ball on the edge of the box with his shot just going wide. A strong start by Forest as Gibbs-White playing in a more central position under Nuno in comparison to where he was playing under Cooper.
It was Newcastle who took the lead though after 20 minutes. Aina left a leg hanging out which consisted in fouling Isak and the referee pointed to the spot. The man who won it took it and placed the ball under Turner to give the home side the lead. The Swedish striker scoring again against Forest after netting a brace in the two’s last meeting and scoring his eighth goal
of the season in the process.
If it was for some better decision making, Forest could of been level sooner. Turner’s long kick was headed on by Montiel and sent Anthony Elanga behind the defence. Despite having Chris Wood to his left, the winger took on the shot himself and was denied by Martin Dubravka. Wood clearly furious as if it was squared to him he had an easy chance to bring the game level.
Just before half time, Forest were level. Gibbs-White breaking through the middle before laying it off to Elanga on the right and he put the ball across for Wood this time as he tapped home from a few yards out. Elanga doing what he could of done earlier in the game and it paid off as former Newcastle man Wood scored to make it goals in back to back games for the Reds.
That was it for the first half as the sides went in level. Forest with a very promising half as they were causing Newcastle problems. Just some better decision making was needed in the next half. Newcastle saw a lot of the ball but didn’t do much with it and were using wide areas to try and break Forest down.
Into the second half, Forest took the lead. Elanga the provider again as he managed to send a ball in behind for Wood who beat his man and found the far corner from the left side to put the Reds ahead.
The New Zealand international then got his hat-trick to mark off an incredible afternoon. Murillo sent a long ball over the top which Wood latched onto and rounded the keeper to score. Most people in the stadium thought that he was offside but after VAR checked the goal he was deemed onside and the striker got his seventh of the season. He is the first Forest player to score three in a game since Sam Surridge back in April 2022.
Not much more happened in the games as Forest claimed their first win since November when they beat another high flying team in Aston Villa. A deserved result for Forest after playing some of their best football since promotion to cloak Nuno’s first victory in charge. For now the Reds move up to 16th in the table ahead of all the other Premier League games. The Reds next host Manchester United where they will look for back ti back wins for the first time this season. Newcastle continue a poor run of form with back to back loses in the league. They sit 7th in the league ahead of all the other Premier League games with a trip to Liverpool up next.
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