As the final whistle blew at St James’ Park, Newcastle United players celebrated, but their manager, Eddie Howe, appeared more bewildered than elated. Despite securing a dramatic 4-3 victory over Nottingham Forest, the match left him feeling as though his team had suffered a loss.
Newcastle had led 4-1 at one stage, seemingly in complete control, before nearly throwing it all away in the second half. The result moved them to fifth place in the Premier League, just three points behind Forest in third, keeping their Champions League hopes alive. However, the chaotic nature of the match left Howe visibly unsettled.
“I am still trying to control my thoughts and stay positive,” he admitted. “It was a crazy game. You’ve seen the best of us and the worst of us. It feels like we lost the game, even though we won it.”
The emotional rollercoaster was not lost on the club’s chairman, Yasir al-Rumayyan, who made a rare visit from Riyadh. At full-time, he stepped onto the pitch to embrace Howe. The manager welcomed the gesture but acknowledged that his emotions were still running high. “It was good to see the chairman, but he might have heard a couple of swear words from me,” he said. “I think he was in the same sort of emotional state, though.”
The dramatic victory came at a pivotal time for the club, as its Saudi Arabian owners are expected to make a decision this week on whether to remain at a rebuilt St James’ Park or seek planning permission for a new stadium in nearby Leazes Park. Discussions will be led by al-Rumayyan and other key stakeholders in the club’s UK-based leadership.
Regardless of the venue, few stadiums will witness a game as thrilling as this one. Newcastle started the match in dominant fashion, showcasing their attacking prowess with free-flowing, dynamic football. However, their inability to manage the game in the second half exposed vulnerabilities, particularly at set pieces.
“At our best, we were free-flowing and dynamic, but we weren’t perfect,” Howe admitted. “We couldn’t get a grip when we lost momentum in the second half. It was a great first-half performance, but we didn’t manage the game well, and we showed frailties at set plays.”
A crucial factor in Newcastle’s victory was Alexander Isak, who delivered a brilliant performance and took his tally to 50 Premier League goals in just 76 appearances. The Swedish striker was at his clinical best, scoring twice and terrorizing the Forest defense in the first half.
“It’s a huge achievement,” Howe said. “When Alex plays like he did in the first half, he’s massive for us.”
The match also saw a standout performance from 18-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley, who opened the scoring for Newcastle and controlled the midfield with maturity beyond his years.
“A really good performance from Lewis Miley,” Howe said. “I’m very pleased with his development.”
On the other side, Nottingham Forest’s manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, was left to reflect on a game of two wildly contrasting halves. His team started well, scoring an early goal, but soon found themselves overwhelmed as Newcastle ran riot before halftime.
“In the first half, I didn’t recognize our team we were so bad,” Nuno admitted. “Newcastle just rolled over us. Every time they had the ball, they looked like scoring.”
However, the second half told a different story. Forest fought back impressively, capitalizing on Newcastle’s defensive lapses to pull two goals back. By the closing stages, they were the ones applying the pressure, desperately searching for an equalizer.
“I wish there had been another 10 minutes at the end,” Nuno said. “We needed that extra time because, by the end, we were on top and had Newcastle on the ropes. Now it’s about trying to settle down, calm down, and be our true selves.”
Despite the three points, Newcastle’s performance raised questions about their game management and defensive discipline. Howe acknowledged the need for improvement but also emphasized the positives, particularly in attack.
For Forest, the defeat was painful, but their second-half resurgence demonstrated their resilience and quality. As the race for the top four intensifies, both teams will need to learn from this extraordinary contest, ensuring that such dramatic swings do not define their season.
