Newcastle United turn into comeback kings as Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall go wild

Eddie Howe celebrated his three-year anniversary as Newcastle United boss with an excellent 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

The trip to the City Ground was not going according to plan in the first half with Newcastle having to fight back from a goal down. But after overcoming the threat of high-flying Forest and a questionable display from Anthony Taylor, the second half was a joy to watch.

Indeed, the goals flowed after the break to send the 3,000 strong Toon following into ecstasy at the City Ground. If Alexander Isak's equaliser was a sweet moment, after Forest skipper Ryan Yates escaped foul after foul, strikes from Joelinton and Harvey Barnes were things of beauty!

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It left both Howe and Jason Tindall punching the air in the technical area as Newcastle made it three wins on the spin and climbed to eighth in an extremely congested Premier League table.

United threatened with four minutes gone when Joe Willock drove down the left with Forest forced to concede a corner with Anthony Gordon lurking. But the set-play once again came to nothing and the home side easily cleared their lines.

In a feisty start to the game, Tino Livramento went down in pain after a clash with Forest skipper Ryan Yates with the right-back suffering a cut lip and action taken on the defender. Moments later, Dan Burn fouled Morgan Gibbs-White to pick up a booking meaning he will miss the clash against West Ham after the international break.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Willock latched on to a poor clearance but sent his effort well wide of the target in front of the Trent End. Willock caused more danger for the home side on 16 minutes when he got free down the left before drifting a cross to the back post but Gordon volleyed over.

The home side nudged ahead after winning a free-kick when Willock conceded a free-kick high on the left after fouling Anthony Elanga. The Sweden international then whipped the ball into the box and centre-back Murillo beat Joelinton to the ball before heading home.

But just moments earlier, Nick Pope had made a save to deny Yates with the ball coming off the Forest captain and it really should have been a goal kick and an opportunity for Newcastle to clear their lines. Understandably, there was a sense of injustice about the opener from a Newcastle point of view.

Bruno Guimaraes attempted to lead the fight back on 24 minutes after being slipped in by Willock but his shot was saved by former Newcastle goalkeeper Matz Sels. A free-kick was wasted on the half hour mark when Gordon whipped the ball in for Joelinton but he headed over.

Burn then missed a chance two minutes later after Joelinton and Sean Longstaff worked the ball to the left but it was easy for Sels. Howe moved Gordon to the left and Joelinton to the right with 11 minutes of the first half to go.

The switch didn't last long as Newcastle switched the pair back the way they started five minutes later. Livramento was sent flying five minutes before the break after being upended by Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Yates left his mark on a Newcastle player again before the break when he put in a dangerous tackle on Longstaff but after trying to ride the challenge the Forest skipper got away with it.

It handed United what should have been a dangerous free-kick but Lewis Hall drilled it straight into a Forest player. Among the talking points at half-time was whether or not Willock could have had a penalty when bundled over in the box but Newcastle started the second half searching for an equaliser.

Bruno came close on 49 minutes when he tried to curve one into the top corner with the outside of his boot but the ball went just over. The game was tied up with 54 minutes gone when a Gordon corner was aimed into the danger zone with ex-striker Chris Wood seeing the ball bounce off him into the path if Alexander Isak who swept home.

Isak's effort bounced off the post and into Sels' net with the Sweden star grabbing his fourth in as many games. Toon old boy and Whitley Bay lad Elliot Anderson was then introduced and came on alongside Jota Silva for Forest.

That set up an intense last half an hour at the City Ground with the Academy product keen to show what he could do and Jota, the man who netted in the Carabao Cup here in August, also a dangerous threat.

At the other end Isak hung the ball up to cross for Gordon but his header was easily gathered by Sels. The yellow card was finally flashed in front of Yates on 65 minutes after he hauled back Isak.

United fans thought their side had gone ahead when Willock crossed from the right for Isak but his vicious effort went the wrong side of the post. Howe introduced Tonali with 21 minutes to go as he replaced Willock.

The substitution gave Newcastle energy again in midfield with Tonali slipping a fine pass forward within a couple of minutes of coming on. The pass allowed Isak to spray it wide to the right for Joelinton before he elegantly cut on to his left foot and curled it majestically beyond Sels with the ball clipping the post on the way in.

That sent the away end into raptures as United players celebrated wildly at 2-1 up with 18 minutes left. Howe then turned to Harvey Barnes for the closing stages of the game as he replaced Gordon.

And three minutes later, Barnes was celebrating his first goal since the 3-1 loss at Fulham back in September. Barnes started and finished a wonderful Toon move.

The £38million man flicked the ball into the path of Bruno before sprinting down the left and then being played in by Tonali. Barnes then took a touch before beating Sels at his near post to make it 3-1 to seal the game.

Howe handed William Osula a taste of the action in the closing stages as he replaced Isak with the Sweden ace enjoying a warm ovation from United supporters. Amusingly, Tindall was the first to shake the hand of Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of Howe at the final whistle.

Would you have it any other way?

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)

Attendance: 30,145