Two outstanding goals, a fair scoreline: what’s not to love?

A beautiful finish from Isak

This is a brilliant finish from Isak, who is so damn hot right now. Schar and Saint-Maximin combined well on the right to release Willock, who lifted a cross towards the unmarked Isak at the far post. The ball was slightly behind Isak, who improvised beautifully to whirl his right foot around the ball and force a volley into the net via the far post.

Isak equalises on the stroke of half time!

Alexander Isak equalises on the stroke of half time! There will be three minutes of added time.

A clash of heads

43 min A clash of heads between Ayew and Guimaraes leads to a break in play while they receive treatment. I think they’re fine.

Miles offside, but allowed to continue

41 min Felipe sprays a pass over the top to Ayew, who looks miles offside but is allowed to continue. Trippier gets back to make a robust challenge, just in case, and then the flag goes up. Replays show Ayew was offside, though not by much.

Forest need a calming yellow card

39 min “Have to say,” says Peter Turnbull, “Forest need a calming yellow card.” I think Dennis was booked for his goal celebration, though I appreciate that’s not the point you’re making. Ayew and Shelvey should have been booked.

Longstaff hits the bar

35 min: Longstaff hits the bar! Murphy muscles Renan Lodi off the ball, just outside the area on the Newcastle right, and slides the ball back to the edge of the area. Longstaff collects and sidefoots a shot that hits Felipe, loops over Navas and hits the crossbar!

Shelvey flips a terrific pass

34 min Shelvey flips a terrific pass into Yates, who can’t control it on the edge of the area. Had he done so, Forest might have been in again.

Yellow card for dissent

33 min Dan Burn is booked for dissent. Misplaced dissent at that, because replays show the decision he complained about was correct.

Hodgson in the running to replace Vieira

22 min “BBC are reporting that Roy Hodgson is in the running to replace Vieira at Palace,” says Simon McMahon. “At least football, much like the American electorate, can’t be accused of ageism.” Rank stupidity, maybe, but not ageism.

A bright start from Newcastle

6 min: Great chance for Willock! Newcastle should be ahead. Trippier played a penetrative straight pass to release Murphy on the right side of the area. He slid a fast low cross towards the far post, where Willock, arriving late, sliced the ball wide with his left foot from six yards. That was a really good chance.

A chaotic pitch invasion

Everyone remember Kevin Keegan’s loss of noggin at Leeds in May 1996, but Newcastle’s game at Forest three days later was even more significant in the title race. Only a spark was needed to set alight combustible feelings, and a balding middle-aged looking pugilist provided it. His paunch exposed, his shirt flying, this heavyweight bare-knuckle fighter set his arms flailing like a windmill and at least five policemen were needed to cool his ardour and pin him to the muddy turf.

Johnson to start the game

Nottingham Forest’s talisman Brennan Johnson has recovered from a groin injury and will start the game. There are four changes from the defeat at Spurs last week, and a possible switch to 4-2-3-1. Moussa Niakhate, Ryan Yates, Emmanuel Dennis and Andre Ayew replace Joe Worrall, Remo Freuler, Orel Mangala and Jesse Lingard. Newcastle are unchanged.

A win would move Forest up to 12th

A win tonight would move Forest up to 12th. Newcastle will stay fifth whatever happens, though they can close the gap on both Spurs and Manchester United.

Credit: https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2023/mar/17/nottingham-forest-newcastle-premier-league-live

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