Newcastle shut down Paul Merson and Nottingham Forest taunts after referee 'nonsense' - 5 things

Newcastle United have moved within a point of third place following an impressive 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Murillo headed Nottingham Forest in front midway through the first half, but Newcastle recovered after the break and goals from Alexander Isak, Joelinton and Harvey Barnes fired the Magpies to their first league win on the road since mid-September.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

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Ruthless Newcastle take Nottingham Forest apart

This was a big win. In so many ways. For context, only league leaders Liverpool had conceded fewer goals than Nottingham Forest this season before the visit of Newcastle. Nuno's team had kept clean sheets in each of their previous two games at the City Ground. They had only shipped three goals at home yet ended up letting in the same amount in a single half against rampant Newcastle.

Newcastle, to their credit, did not panic after falling behind or after failing to find a way through in the opening 53 minutes and the Magpies eventually equalised through a once unlikely source: a set-play. Anthony Gordon took the corner kick and Sean Longstaff smartly occupied former team-mate Chris Wood, who was unable to head clear, and Alexander Isak was there to sweep home from close range. What a time for Newcastle to score from a corner for the first time this season.

Newcastle's tails were up and the black-and-whites had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 68th minute when Willock picked out Isak at the back post, but the forward volleyed wide. It did not matter - Newcastle were soon in front.

Isak spread the ball out to Joelinton on the right as Newcastle broke forward and Nottingham Forest defenders back peddled and invited the Brazilian to shoot from inside the box. Joelinton did not need a second invitation and the 28-year-old deftly cut inside onto his favoured left foot before curling an exquisite effort in off the post.

Newcastle were not done yet. The Magpies took Nottingham Forest apart on the counter once again late on when substitute Harvey Barnes started and finished a clinical breakaway move after cutting inside Nikola Milenkovic inside the box and firing the ball through the Nottingham Forest defender's legs past Matz Sels.

When was the last time Nottingham Forest were ripped apart like this? No wonder the away end chanted: "E-I-E-I-E-I-O! Up the Premier League we go!'

Visitors show mettle on road to shut down Paul Merson

There was a reason 'Welcome to the Jungle' crackled out of the public address system at the City Ground as the players walked out of the tunnel. Getting a result here was every bit as big a test for Newcastle as facing title-chasing Arsenal on home soil eight days previously. After all, high-flying Nottingham Forest had only previously lost one league game all season and Nuno's team are the only side who have defeated league leaders Liverpool.

Newcastle had won a penalty shootout here against a much-changed side in the Carabao Cup earlier in the campaign, but how would Eddie Howe's team cope on Sunday? "This will be a really tough examination of our away form and our mentality when we go on the road," the Newcastle boss predicted.

Well, Newcastle certainly passed it. Just as that win against Arsenal was a throwback to Newcastle at their best, the manner in which the black-and-whites took Nottingham Forest apart on the counter was a reminder of how devastating this side are on the break.

It would have been easy for heads to drop after going behind. Or for Newcastle to grow frustrated after spurning a number of decent opportunities. Or for the visitors to lose their heads as Nottingham Forest knocked the ball around before half-time to a chorus of olés. However, the Magpies dug in and showed real quality to recover.

To think Paul Merson had predicted Nottingham Forest would win after feeling that he 'hadn't seen enough from Newcastle to think they will outplay Forest away from home on current form'. Well, the visitors certainly showed enough on Sunday.

Eddie Howe marks three years in charge in perfect fashion

This was a fitting way for Newcastle to mark three years under Eddie Howe. Newcastle have come from behind on so many occasions under the the Magpies boss in the last 36 months and this side have already recovered eight points from losing positions this season.

As much as Howe has made some key changes and tweaks along the way, whether it was throwing on Harvey Barnes at Wolves or shifting Joelinton over to the right against Nottingham Forest, the Newcastle boss has also fostered a never-say-die spirit that has helped kickstart the black-and-whites' season. Despite a frustrating summer, Newcastle are very much in the race for the top four.

An impressive response to going behind

Standards are such, though, that even after a win, you can be sure Newcastle's coaching team won't be happy with the manner of Nottingham Forest's opening goal from a wide free-kick in the 21st minute. It was a soft set-piece to give away in the first place; Joe Willock had positioned himself to block Anthony Elanga's cross, but the midfielder ultimately took the Newcastle target down after failing to slow himself down as they both ran for the ball.

Elanga rose to his feet to take the set-play and Newcastle, who have been one of the best sides at defending free-kicks and corners this season, uncharacteristically gave Murillo all the space he needed to head home after Alexander Isak dropped a couple of yards deeper than the Magpies' defensive line. What was impressive was Newcastle's response to that setback on an afternoon red-hot Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood barely had a sniff against his former side.

Ryan Yates' escape doesn't matter

Remarkably, it took until midway through the second half for Ryan Yates to go into the book on an afternoon the Nottingham Forest captain could just so easily have seen red before then. In truth, Newcastle did not need a man advantage to win this game.

There were just six minutes on the clock when Nikola Milkenkovic headed Alexander Isak's cross away and the ball hung in the air on the edge of the box. It looked like it was about to fall to Tino Livramento, but Yates glanced over, stuck his elbow out and caught the Newcastle defender in the face to send him to the floor with a bloodied mouth. Nothing was given.

Nottingham Forest then broke forward at pace and Dan Burn made a cynical challenge to take out Morgan Gibbs-White, which earned the Geordie a caution from referee Anthony Taylor, and will see him miss the game against West Ham after the international break. Jamie Carragher, watching on at the City Ground, could not believe it. "It's something that has got to be looked at," the Liverpool legend said. "Livramento has had a whack, should have had a free-kick and Nottingham Forest have got a free-kick. Livramento can't defend it and they're actually down to 10 men. I mean that has to change. That's nonsense."

Yates could also count himself fortunate to escape punishment when the Nottingham Forest midfielder caught Sean Longstaff on the thigh with a high boot right in front of referee Anthony Taylor later in the first half. However, the referee played on after Longstaff did not go to ground. Yates was eventually booked in the 65th minute after the Nottingham Forest skipper pulled Alexander Isak back as Newcastle countered.