Alexander Isak reveals ‘very positive’ change that inspired Newcastle United’s win at Nottingham Forest

Alexander Isak believes Newcastle United got what they deserved as his two-goal display helped his side claim all three points at Nottingham Forest.

The Magpies record signing was handed a second consecutive start after he found the net in last weekend’s 2-1 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers and rewarded Eddie Howe with two well-taken goals.

United fell behind as the half-hour approached when Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis punished a Sven Botman error with a neat finish past Nick Pope that just evaded the recovering Kieran Trippier on the goal-line. However, the Magpies hit back just before half-time with a sublime effort from Isak as he volleyed a Joe Willock cross beyond hosts keeper Keylor Navas and into his net via the far post.

Newcastle controlled the vast majority of the second-half and we left bewildered when a header from half-time substitute Elliot Anderson was controversially ruled out for an offside against Sean Longstaff earlier in the move.

But those frustrations were wiped away in injury-time when a needless handball from Forest defender Moussa Niakhate allowed Isak to step up and double his tally for the night with a coolly-taken penalty that has taken United to within touching distance of the Champions League places once again.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said: “I think first-half, we weren’t on it and we know we can play so much better than that so it was very positive that we managed to get a goal to take into half-time.

“We spoke about it at half-time, we needed to up the level and I think we came out after half-time, changed our game and played really well. You get rewarded.

“I think before this period we have been having we had a good flow and everything was going well for us. The last two games have been about character. They haven’t been 4-0 wins but we showed great character, played until the end and got rewarded.”

Isak will now hope to take his form into the international break after he was named in the Sweden squad to face Belgium and Azerbaijan in Euro 2024 qualifiers over the next ten days.