Forest 1-2 Newcastle: Isak settles VAR farce as superb Toon seal dramatic win

After some shambolic refereeing and VAR intervention that almost cost us two points, a 93rd minute winner from Alexander Isak secured another monumental win for Eddie Howe's Mags.

We were the better team all night, enjoyed 61% of the ball, created a host of big chances and had to show real mental strength to keep at it on a night where nothing was going our way.

Following Forest's opener against the run of play, Isak's superb equaliser just before the break and a towering Elliot Anderson header that was wrongly disallowed, our ice-cool Swede buried a stoppage time penalty, securing back-to-back wins that send us one point behind Spurs and five clear of Liverpool and Brighton; two teams who don't play this weekend.

The hosts had lost just once at the City Ground since September, but we outplayed them tonight and were great value for the win, sending thousands of Geordies home happy as we head into the international break on one almighty high.

Howe named an unchanged XI from last Sunday's win over Wolves, but Miguel Almiron missed out with thigh injury that will now keep him sidelined for 'six weeks.' In better news, it was good to see Fabian Schar pass a fitness test after withdrawing from international duty, with Callum Wilson also on the bench, despite failing to train all week.

It was a raucous atmosphere at the City Ground and game featuring two sides fighting for their life at opposite ends of the table. Jonjo Shelvey started against his former club and it didn't take him long to make his presence felt, putting in late challenge on Bruno moments before Andre Ayew's dangerous tackle on Schar; who was fortunately able to continue after struggling to put weight on his ankle.

Six minutes in, our first big opening arrived. Trippier slipped in Murphy down the right and his inviting ball across the box found Willock. It was a lovely move but a big chance wasted as the former Arsenal man fired over.

It was a strong start. We were moving the ball quickly, winning 50/50s, drawing fouls and getting into good areas. After another Shelvey trip brought down Bruno, Trippier slipped in Isak from a well-worked free-kick. His first touch was good and he quickly got a shot off, only for his effort to hit the bar via a deflection off Lodi.

After letting a series of blatant fouls go, the referee finally pulled out the first yellow card of the game after Emmanuel Dennis left Trippier in a heap. Just as we were edging towards an opener, the Nigerian gave Forest the lead against the run of play, latching onto an awful back pass from Botman, rounding Pope and chipping the ball past Trippier, who couldn't leap high enough on the line. 1-0 Forest and brutal punishment for missed chances and car crash defending.

Paul Tierney's shocking officiating went from bad to worse as Shelvey wasn't booked for a scissoring challenge to bring down Bruno. His third of the night, yet still he avoided a yellow card. Moments later, a bit of dissent from Burn was greeted with a booking. Of course it was! It felt like one of those nights where nothing would go our way, and that continued as another deflected effort - this time from Longstaff - crashed the bar after more good work from Murphy down the right.

For all of our good work, Saint-Maximin wasn't offering enough and it seemed quite telling that Callum Wilson was told to warm up by Eddie Howe ten minutes before the break. A change in the offing if the Frenchman didn't offer more?

Thankfully, ASM was then involved in a break in first-half stoppage time, releasing Willock down the right. He got his head up and picked out Isak at the back-post, who sent the away end wild with a superbly controlled volley that went in off the woodwork. A lovely move and top quality finish, giving us a well-deserved equaliser just moments before the break.

As predicted, ASM was hooked by Howe - despite his good play leading up to the goal - as Elliot Anderson came on for the final 45. Tactically, it worked a treat, but it was later confirmed that Maxi was taken off due to 'tightness' in his hamstring. Back to Anderson, the Geordie talent made an instant impact. First he almost won a penalty as Felipe grabbed his shirt following his good run in behind, then a superbly struck volley forced Navas into a smart save. A flurry of corners followed and we looked bang at it again, looking full of belief and urgency after Isak's leveller.

A rare Forest attack then led to Forest's first corner of the half. Isak cleared ahead of Pope but only as far as Shelvey, who had one effort blocked and another fly just past Pope's post.

At the other end, Murphy looked set to release Anderson in behind after cutting in well. The youngster made a lovely run but lost his footing just as he was slipped in, with Bruno going close seconds later after his stinging effort was tipped over by Navas.

Promising signs with 30 minutes remaining and it looked to have paid off when Elliot Anderson powered a brilliant back-post header past Navas after some lovely work from Isak. The celebrations in the away end were incredible and the goal equally special for our local lad, but...it was disallowed due to Sean Longstaff being offside in the build up. I'm no expert on the ins and outs, but HOW is that offside when TWO Forest players made attempts to clear before Longstaff became 'active' and interfered with play?!

Still, we didn't let the latest howler deter us and picked up from where we left off, seeing Anderson and Isak continue to cause havoc. Both were making darting runs into the box, scaring the life out of Forest defenders with quick feet and direct running.

With 10 minutes remaining, Willock did well to find space down the left and Anderson got involved again to cut the ball back for Murphy, who fired wide after failing to control his shot. Then, after Murphy and Longstaff linked up superbly down the right, Isak fired a low shot that was well blocked by Aurier.

That was Murphy's last act as Matt Ritchie came on for the final five minutes. Pope made a solid save with his feet to deny Johnson, but we kept at it and we got our reward in the 93rd minute, as Isak's header from a teasing Willock cross struck Niakhate's outstretched arm. Forest tried to delay the spot kick, but our club record signing took the ball from Trippier and slotted past Navas. 2-1 Newcastle, sheer joy in the away end and justice served!

A massive, massive win and a rollercoaster ride. A huge test of mental strength to score after wrongly disallowed goal. Our first win from behind this season and a HUGE three points in the top four race.

Next up, a chance to leapfrog Man Utd IF we can beat the Red Devils in our first game back after the international break two weeks on Sunday! GET INNNNN.

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Saint-Maximin.

SUBS: Dubravka, Dummett, Lascelles, Wilson, Ritchie, Lewis, Targett, Manquillo, Anderson.