Eddie Howe says last-gasp win at Forest feels ‘a big moment’ in Newcastle season

Eddie Howe believes Newcastle’s late win at Nottingham Forest could possibly be a defining second in his facet’s pursuit of Champions League soccer subsequent season.

Alexander Isak struck a stoppage-time penalty to earn a 2-1 victory which sees them transfer to inside some extent of fourth-placed Tottenham with a recreation in hand.

Forest had gone forward in the twenty sixth minute via Emmanuel Dennis’ first aim for the membership, however Isak levelled in excellent trend on the stroke of half-time when he volleyed residence.

A second half of frustration unfolded for Howe’s facet as they looked for a winner, not least once they had a aim controversially dominated out by VAR.

But Isak had the ultimate say from the spot after Moussa Niakhate’s handball to maintain the dream of a top-four end firmly alive, constructing on final weekend’s win over Wolves.

“Back-to-back wins, consecutive wins are hugely important in this division,” Howe stated. “The quality of the teams, the strength of the opponent (it) is so difficult to do.

“A big moment in our season and we managed to dig deep and find a winner.

“We don’t know (how important it could be) at this moment in time, but it felt a big moment at the end.

“We went through a run of games around the cup final that were tough games, playing top opposition. Unfortunately we got beaten three times and it was a real test of our character how we responded to that.

“Full credit to the players, it was a huge win.”

The factors might need been wrapped up earlier than damage time had Elliot Anderson’s aim not been dominated out for offside in the course of the build-up, a call which left Howe with “no idea” what was happening.

“The VAR goal is a good place to start, I’m not sure what happened there,” he stated. “I’ve got no idea so I need to sit down and see what happened.

“I was surprised to see the referee go over to the VAR screen and make that decision and that call.

“But it was what it was and the big thing is the players responded from that really well.”

There was some dangerous information for the Magpies, although, as Miguel Almiron has been dominated out for six weeks with a thigh damage picked up in coaching.

“Miggy pulled a thigh muscle in training and unfortunately quite a bad one, it is going to be six weeks,” Howe stated.

Forest additionally had concern with referee Paul Tierney and it’s understood that the membership’s homeowners have been livid with the official’s efficiency.

The major level of rivalry was Tierney’s resolution to not award a free-kick in the build-up to Isak’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Boss Steve Cooper, who was referred to as into Tierney’s dressing room at half-time together with Newcastle assistant supervisor Jason Tindall, stated: “I won’t dwell on the fact too much, but it’s a foul on Andre (Ayew) in the build-up.

“The referee has made a poor decision and so have we. The handball around the penalty is something we can’t argue with.”

Former Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey steered his previous team-mates might need influenced the referee.

“I didn’t think they’d whinge as much as they did on the pitch, to be honest,” he advised Sky Sports.

“There’s a lot of whinge bags in their team to be fair and I’ll tell them that now, in a jokey way.

“But I hope they get into Europe, I’ve got nothing but positive words to say about the whole club, the people there, the staff there…I made a lot of friends and I’m happy for them to keep pushing up the league.

“But I represent this club now. As soon as I go over the white line I’m there to win. We didn’t do that today, but we’ll come again.”