EPL: Chris Wood hat trick unboxes perfect start for Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest

A hat-trick by Taiwo Awoniyi’s replacement, Chris Wood, allowed Nottingham Forest to travel home with all three points in Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge, as they defeated Newcastle 3-1, Soccernet.ng reports.

Forest were winless in seven Premier League games, which led to the dismissal of Steve Cooper last week. A day later, former Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur manager, Nuno Espirito Santo was appointed.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United also had just one win from their last six games, meaning both sides were desperate to pick up points in a desperate affair at the Saint-James Park.

The hosts broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after Ola Aina brought Aleksandar Isak down in the box. Kris Kavanagh consulted with the VAR and stuck with his initial decision. Isak swept home cooly from the spot to score his eight league goal of the season.

With a minute left to half-time, a brilliant run from Anthony Elanga saw him run into the opposition box before squaring the ball to Chris Wood who was unmarked at the back post. The New Zealand forward tapped home to score the equalizer.

Eight minutes into the second half, another brilliant pass from Elanga found Chris Wood in space. The striker exchanged Christmas presents with Dan Burn as he left him for dead on the half-turn, chipping the ball brilliantly over Martin Dubravka.

The game was put beyond reasonable doubt on the hour mark. Murillo’s pass found Chris Wood yet again in acres of space, something for Eddie Howe to worry about. Wood dribbled past Dubravka and tapped the ball home into an empty goal.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s first Nottingham win takes Forest into 16th place in the League, just a point ahead of Everton. The Toffees face Club World Cup Champions, Manchester City, tomorrow.