Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo acknowledged that Newcastle United was the superior team in their 3-1 victory at the City Ground. Forest initially took the lead, but Newcastle turned the game around with goals from Alexander Isak, Joelinton, and Harvey Barnes, securing their third consecutive win across all competitions. Newcastle controlled the game with 57% possession and 17 shots to Forest’s nine, ending Forest’s three-game winning streak.
Despite the defeat, Forest remains in the Premier League’s top five, with Newcastle just a point behind in eighth place. After the match, Espírito Santo admitted that Newcastle deserved the win. “It was by no means a poor performance,” he said. “We played against a very good team that controlled the game and countered effectively, which is usually our strength. This was a lesson for us.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was pleased with his team’s resilience, particularly after they fell behind to a first-half header from Murillo. “I’m very pleased with this result because we needed momentum,” Howe commented. “Football can change so quickly, and three straight wins have transformed the team’s confidence. Coming from 1-0 down on the road and securing the win is huge for us.”
Howe praised his team’s effectiveness in defense and counter-attacks, particularly noting the third goal as a great example of their transition play. He emphasized the importance of the result, especially after their recent wins, and credited the players for rising to the challenge against a strong, in-form team. “Thanks to our second-half performance, we’re now talking about three straight wins,” he concluded.
