As Luton Town stretch their winning streak  to two on Boxing Day football

By Ed Emeanua

Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey failed to bounce back with the Whites  after a defeat at home to Burnley last time out, after losing their away game at Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium by 3-0 on Saturday.

Justin Kluivert opened scoring on 44th minute for Bournemouth just before half-time, with Dominic Solanke and Luis Sinisterra adding two second half goals to secure victory for the Cherries.

João Palhinha upended Antoine Semenyo in Fulham box forcing the referee to award a penalty soon after second half kick-off. Solanke converted on 62nd minute from the penalty spot to put Bournemouth further ahead by 2-0 on the scoreboard.

Sinisterra then scored the thrid goal on 90+3 minute for Bournemouth off a sensational belter of a shot from outside the area, and well into stoppage time.

Elsewhere, the Hatters upped their winning streak to two in less than a week, beating Sheffield United 3-2 away in a five goal thriller at Bramall Lane.

Luton shot into the lead through Alfie Doughty only to draw a reaction from Oliver McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic, to send the home team ahead. Two own goals later– from Jack Robinson and Anis Ben Slimane – allow The Hatters not only to level up, but to win game.

The defeat condemned the Blades to yet another defeat. Although chance played provider for Luton on this tie a day after Christmas, Chris Wilder’s side were very well  outplayed for most of the first half by the highly spirited away side.

Doughty’s weak attempt at goal at near post managed to slither between the legs of Wes Foderingham and into the net for The Hatter’s first goal in the 17th minute.

Defaulting to a back three, the Blades dominated in the second half and shot into the lead when a through run from James McAtee set up McBurnie to redirect it into the net on 61st minute and Ahmedhodzic netted after a goalmouth scramble on 69th minute.

Carlton Morris was then substituted in to help set up both of the Hatters’ second-half goals to turn the tide. His in-swinging cross down the right was redirected into his team’s net by Robinson in the 77th minute followed by Morris’ pull back inside the penalty area striking the withdrawing Slimane to send the ball flying into Foderingham’s top left corner of the net for an 81st minute own-goal.

The win lifted Luton Town to inside a point of fourth from bottom lying Everton on the Premiership table, while the Blades are stuck to the bottom, seven points from safety.

https://youtu.be/bYSkLi8NsOo

By Ed Emeanua

Teams Lineups

Newcastle (4-1-2-3) Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Bruno Guimaraes; Miley, Longstaff; Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
Substitutes: Karius, Dummett, Joelinton, Wilson, Ritchie, Krafth, Hall, Livramento, Murphy

Nottingham Forest (possible 4-2-3-1) Turner; Montiel, Murillo, Niakhate, Aina; Danilo, Sangare; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Substitutes: Odysseas, Nuno, Worrall, Mangala, Williams, Kouyate, Dominguez, Yates, Origi.

Referee Chris Kavanagh.

Nuno Espirito Santo has waved his magic wand again to change his side’s fast eroding Premier League status and Nottingham Forest to a 3-1 Boxing day take down of Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Chris Woods notched a hattrick helping Forest come from behind after an early Isak penalty goal to hand the visiting team an away and setback Newcastle struggles for another top four finish in the Premier League this term.

Nuno made six changes to the Nottingham Forest side. Ola Aina, Moussa Niakhate, Gonzalo Montiel, Danilo, Ibrahim Sangare and Callum Hudson-Odoi all came in for Willy Boly (suspended after his awkward red card against Bournemouth), Harry Toffolo, Neco Williams, Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala and Divock Origi.

Sven Botman made his first start since September, replacing the injured Jamaal Lascelles in defence for Newcastle. Alexander Isak came in place of Callum Wilson in the only other change from Saturday’s defeat at Luton. Joelinton was made to return to the bench for this one.

Miley played a neat through pass towards Isak, who pulls away from Aina and goes down, allowing the referee with minimal ponder for a couple of seconds to award what looked like a soft penalty kick to the home team. Alexander Isak made the most of the opportunity and also stepped up to score from the spot.

Isak goes down under the challenge from Aina. Photograph: Richard Lee/REX/Shutterstock

Alexander Isak tucks away the kick. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

Then on 45+1 minutes, Chris Wood scored against his former club to draw Forest level. His strike came on the break after Almiron, who had robbed Danilo of the ball on the edge of the Forest area, passed when he should have shot at goal.

The ball was cut out and Forest were off to a counter attacking foray at the other end. In the end, Gibbs-White slid an angled pass to Elanga, whose low cross on the stretch gave Wood an open goal run to score. Forest went in at the half-time 1-1 level thanks to Wood’s equalizer injury time against his former club.

On 53rd minute of the game, Wood edged Forest ahead with a majestic finish. Niakhate brought the ball out from the back line and fed it to Elanga, who looked like he was taken out as he ran forward and pinged it to Wood. Excellent work by the forward to power forward and finish.

Wood returned with another masterful finish on 60th minute. He sped through on a simple searing pass from Murillo, having been played onside by Kieran Trippier, dummied Martin Dubravka before side stepping the Newcastle goalkeeper to score his third goal of the game.

Forest then held on to hand Nuno his first win as manager of the side.