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Matthew Hobkinson

Newcastle United supporters react as 'karma' sees Alexander Isak score penalty amid VAR controversy

Newcastle United fans could not hide their relief over what they saw as 'karma' as Alexander Isak scored a late penalty to see Eddie Howe's side beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 after Elliot Anderson's goal was bizarrely ruled out for by VAR for offside earlier in the match.

Goals from Isak in the dying moments of the first and second-half gave Newcastle a vital three points in their pursuit of Champions League football. The Magpies have now moved one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand on Antonio Conte's side.

Forest took the lead against the run of play after an uncharacteristic mistake from Sven Botman, but Isak ensured that the two sides went in level with a superbly taken acrobatic volley moments before the break.

ALSO READ: Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United as it happened

Elliot Anderson, who replaced Allan Saint-Maximin at half-time, thought he had given Newcastle the lead with a well-taken back-post header, only for VAR to deem that Sean Longstaff was offside in the build-up - despite the ball coming off two Forest players before hitting the midfielder - as Paul Tierney was sent to the monitor to make the call.

Fans started to fear the worst until Newcastle were handed a lifeline in the dying moments after Moussa Niakhate handled the ball in the area. After Kieran Tripper attracted the attention of Forest's mind-games by holding the ball near the spot, Isak then swooped in at the last-minute to calmly slot the ball home and spark wild scenes in the away end.

As the full-time whistle blew, it did not take long before fans shared what they saw as justice being served as they took to social media to share their thoughts on a breathless 90 minutes at the City Ground.

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