Elliot Anderson scored a stunning late equalizer against his former club to deny Newcastle and put Nottingham Forest on the brink of Premier League survival.
Forest had little to offer during a tense game until the England midfielder played a one-two with James McAtee in the area before firing past Nick Pope with two minutes remaining.
It means Forest are now seven points clear of the bottom three and have a huge goal difference over West Ham, who have three games to play, starting this afternoon against Arsenal.
The defeat was a blow to Newcastle, who thought they had secured the points when substitute Harvey Barnes scored a well-worked first goal with 16 minutes remaining.
This game was a good result for the Forest team who looked tired following the 4-0 defeat in the Europa League at Aston Villa on Thursday night.
Lackluster first half ends with a bang
The first half was very much like the end of the season with neither team able to put much together offensively.
Newcastle had more possession at the start of the season but were restricted to half chances – William Osula’s well-placed free-kick and Sandro Tonali’s shot over the bar.
Forest’s goalkeeper, Matz Sels, went down in the middle of the half, causing both managers to receive instructions from their players with a view to correcting them. Forest switched to a back three to increase numbers in midfield and give the strikers more control.
They had the best chance of the game after 37 minutes when Taiwo Awoniyi failed to connect the ball that was bent by Dilane Bakwa but the ball found Papa again, who was able to block the ball that was coming out of his arm. The rebound fell to Jair Cunha but Pope reacted well to make a block.
On the other hand, Sels got down smartly to avoid a low drive from Osula.
Barnes provides the quality to put Newcastle forward
Pope saved Igor Jesus at the start of the second half after the Brazilian had used the entire area in the area.
After 60 minutes of his side producing very little, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe brought on Harvey Barnes and Jacob Ramsey for the inactive Jacob Murphy and Nick Woltemade.
And it had the desired effect of Newcastle finally giving something forward. Bruno Guimaraes had two chances but was unable to capitalize on both – the first seeing his shot go straight at Sels and the second forcing the Forest keeper into a smart save.
It was also Guimaraes who got a free-kick that Osula bent over the post after Sels was beaten after 69 minutes.
Newcastle’s pressure finally told in a good way to not save the game. And it was two substitutes combined, Ramsey feeding a superb ball for Barnes to run onto and pass to the advancing Sels.
It looked like it would be enough until Hlathi gathered in the closing stages. They didn’t really test Pope until Anderson picked up the ball on the edge of the area, exchanged passes with McAtee before firing high into the net.
Forest went for a late winner but Newcastle held on.
