Eddie Howe admits Newcastle struggled to control the match after tense victory against Forest

Newcastle United’s manager, Eddie Howe, reflected on his team’s inability to manage the game properly after they narrowly secured a 4-3 win against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday. This came despite a commanding first-half performance where they led 4-1 at the interval.

The Magpies enjoyed a stunning first half, netting four goals in just 11 minutes, dominating play and potentially missing out on a bigger lead.

However, Howe was alarmed by his side’s drastic dip in form during the second half, as they allowed Forest to create multiple chances, ultimately being fortunate that their opponents finished with only two goals.

“I’m trying to keep a positive mindset,” Howe remarked to the BBC. “We’ve won the match, which was our objective. The first half was a fantastic performance. We didn’t manage the game effectively, but overall, we’re pleased to come away with the win.“

Nottingham Forest initially took the lead just six minutes in, but Newcastle quickly asserted their dominance through a series of goals, with Alexander Isak scoring twice, bringing his Premier League tally to an impressive 50 in just 76 matches.

“It was always going to be a tough game, especially after they took the early lead. We knew we had a significant challenge ahead,” said Howe. “I thought our ball control was excellent, and we looked dynamic, yet we showed a few weaknesses when it came to defending set-pieces.”

“Winning while knowing there’s room for improvement is a positive take-away. That’s what I’ll carry with me from today,” he added.

“We can analyse that (second) half and recognise where we need to enhance our performance. We take pride in our ability to improve and get the finer details right.”

Howe was particularly complimentary about Isak, who has become only the second player in the Premier League era to score 50 goals for the club, following in the footsteps of Alan Shearer.

“This milestone is significant, and when he plays like he did in the first half, he is crucial for us,” Howe commented. “His pace was electric, and the timing of his run for the second goal was exceptional. He’s a key player for the team.”

Check out the match statistics here