Yasir Al-Rumayyan sees Newcastle respond to angry Jason Tindall after taunts – 5 things

Yasir Al-Rumayyan sees Newcastle respond to angry Jason Tindall – 5 things
Ciaran Kelly
7 – 8 minutes

Newcastle United have moved up to fifth place following a 4-3 win against fellow Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park.

Callum Hudson-Odoi gave Nottingham Forest an early lead with an effort from distance, but Newcastle recovered to blow the visitors away in the first half following goals from Lewis Miley, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak. However, Nottingham Forest rallied in the second half and strikes from Nikols Milenkovic and substitute Ryan Yates set up a nervy finish.

Here are five things we learned from the game.
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Celebration sets tone for comeback

Frustrations were growing inside St James’ Park in the first half. Lewis Miley had a half-volley deflected behind. Jacob Murphy’s whipped cross was beyond Alexander Isak. The unmarked Anthony Gordon failed to connect with Tino Livramento’s teasing ball across the box.

Newcastle could have changed tack, in search of an equaliser, but the Magpies kept pushing and the hosts’ persistence was rewarded midway through the first half. Lewis Hall’s cross was taken down by Miley, who took a smart touch inside the box to take the ball away from Nottingham Forest’s defenders, before rifling past Matz Sels.

A beaming Miley roared in delight, but there were no over the top celebrations. Dan Burn grabbed the ball from the net and Newcastle players raced back into their own half so that the game could quickly get back under way. The message was clear: Newcastle wanted another and the black-and-whites soon grabbed it.
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Lewis Miley (67) celebrates with teammates after scoring Newcastle’s opening goal
Lewis Miley (67) celebrates with teammates after scoring Newcastle’s opening goal
Newcastle run riot to silence away end’s taunts

Nottingham Forest won’t necessarily have travelled in fear. Not only have Nuno’s team got one of the best records on the road in the Premier League; St James’ has not exactly been a fortress in the Premier League in recent months after the Magpies suffered home defeats against Fulham, Bournemouth, West Ham and Brighton.

No wonder the away end were in full voice after the visitors were gifted an early lead. Nottingham Forest fans were even singing their own versions of ‘Is this the way to Barcelona?’ and ‘E-I-E-I-E-I-O – Up the Premier League we go!’ while there were also taunts of ‘Champions of Europe – you’ll never sing that!’

However, when Newcastle get their tails up, it is hard to stop the Magpies at St James’ and Eddie Howe’s side took Nottingham Forest apart with four goals in just 11 minutes in the first half as the hosts raced down the hill towards the Gallowgate.

Having drawn level midway through the first half, Newcastle turned the game on its head just a couple of minutes later and Lewis Hall was the architect once again. This time, Hall galloped into the box and the defender’s deflected cross spun away from Matz Sels. There was Jacob Murphy at the back post to knock the ball into the net.

Alexander Isak scores for Newcastle United
Alexander Isak scores for Newcastle United (Image: IAIN BUIST / Chronicle)

That was the cue for chants of ‘You’re not singing anymore!’ from Geordies and Newcastle were not finished yet. The Magpies won a penalty in the 33rd minute after Ola Aina was penalised for a handball following a VAR check. Up stepped Alexander Isak, who opted for the chip down the middle. Although Sels managed to get a hand to the ball, the former Newcastle goalkeeper could not keep it out.

Remarkably, Isak was celebrating again a minute later after the impressive Joe Willock slipped his team-mate in. Although Isak’s finish took a deflection off the boot of Murillo, the ball looped over Sels and into the net.
A needlessly nervy second half

Even the usually measured Eddie Howe called it a ‘potentially big moment’ in Newcastle’s season before a ball was even kicked on Sunday. In truth, this was the very definition of a six-pointer in the race for the Champions League spots. On an afternoon Newcastle could have fallen nine points behind Nottingham Forest, the Magpies instead moved within just three points of Nuno’s team.

Yet this was far from a perfect performance from Newcastle. Instead of pushing for more, and landing a further psychological blow after taking a 4-1 lead, Newcastle needlessly let Nottingham Forest back into the game after the break.

Nottingham Forest deservedly pulled one back after the hour mark when Elliot Anderson’s corner was hooked back across by Chris Wood and there was Nikola Milenkovic to backheel the ball into the net with a clever improvised finish. Newcastle uncharacteristically conceded another goal from a corner kick late on to set up a nervy finish after the Magpies failed to clear their lines and substitute Ryan Yates prodded home. However, the hosts managed to hold on to claim a massive win.

Eddie Howe during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Nottingham Forest FC at St James’ Park
Hosts recover from shocker after angering Jason Tindall

It was rather telling that broadcasters had cut to a shot of Elliot Anderson as Tino Livramento lined up to take a throw-in in the sixth minute. There certainly did not look to be any danger on the cards.

However, rather than going forward, Livramento threw the ball back towards his own goal to Jacob Murphy, who was dispossessed by Callum Hudson-Odoi. The Nottingham Forest winger took a couple of touches before letting fly from 25 yards and the returning Nick Pope was well-beaten after the strike appeared to catch the veteran off guard.

Jason Tindall, who had gestured for Newcastle players to move towards him as the throw-in was taken, was far from happy as the Magpies assistant bellowed from the touchline and exchanged words with Murphy. However, Newcastle responded and eventually made amends; there is a reason this spirited side have picked up more points (18) from losing positions than any other team this season.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan jets in

This was the first game Yasir Al-Rumayyan watched at St James’ Park since September and this feels like a particularly significant visit from the Newcastle chairman as the black-and-whites weigh up their next move with the stadium. However, it is also a reminder of the work ahead this summer. Regardless of where Newcastle finish, this squad will need strengthening.