Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood scored a superb hat-trick against his former club Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Tuesday to give his struggling side a much-needed 3-1 victory in the Premier League.
Forest’s first win under new coach Nuno Espirito Santo lifted it to 16th in the table on 17 points, five above the relegation zone, while Newcastle’s fourth defeat in its last five league games left it seventh on 29 points.
It was another dull, disjointed performance from a Magpies side which had only conceded four goals at home this season, only to allow a striker deemed surplus to requirements to score three times in one game.
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Newcastle took the lead in the 23rd minute when Alexander Isak won a penalty as he tried to spin away from Forest full back Ola Aina, and the Swedish striker stepped up to stroke home the spot-kick low to left of keeper Matt Turner.
Wood, who was loaned to Forest by Newcastle in January before being signed permanently, brought his side level just before the break with a close-range tap-in from Anthony Elanga’s centre.
Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White flashed a header just wide and Elanga should have put the visitor ahead six minutes after the break, but his weak effort with the goal at his mercy was easily dealt with by Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka.
Newcastle’s defence failed to heed those warnings however, and Wood put his side ahead in the 53rd minute with a brilliant solo effort from another counter-attack, dinking the ball past Dubravka with his left foot after a clever run.
Newcastle enjoyed plenty of possession but once again its attack struggled to gel. Only Isak looked dangerous when he got hold of the ball around the Forest box, and the away side was always ready to pounce once the attacks broke down.
New Zealand international Wood completed his hat-trick on the hour mark with another well-taken goal on the counter, rounding Dubravka and coolly slotting home to secure a well-deserved win.
Luton force two late own goals to win at Sheffield United
Jack Robinson and Ben Slimani scored own goals in the final 13 minutes as Sheffield United let a late lead slip and lost 3-2 to fellow Premier League strugglers Luton Town at Bramall Lane on Tuesday.
Luton took the lead in the first half through Alfie Doughty, but a strong second-half showing from the home side turned the game on its head as Oli McBurnie netted and Anel Ahmedhodzic scored his first Premier League goal.
Having worked so hard to get in front, however, United surrendered their lead in cruel fashion as Robinson flicked a cross into his own net and Slimani deflected a shot into his own goal.
Luton stayed in 18th position but moved to 15 points from 18 games, one point from safety, while United remained rooted to the bottom of the table with nine points from 19 matches, their survival hopes having taken a massive blow.
Bournemouth overpower Fulham to move into top half
A resurgent Bournemouth moved into the top half of the Premier League standings with a 3-0 home win over Fulham on Tuesday thanks to goals by Justin Kluivert, Dominic Solanke and Luis Sinisterra.
Andoni Iraola’s side were winless in their first nine league games of the season, but the suspended Spaniard watching the contest from the stands was all smiles as they sealed their sixth win in seven matches.
The result moved Bournemouth up to 10th with 25 points from 18 matches while Fulham are 13th following their third straight defeat without scoring.
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