Topics: Football, Newcastle United, Premier League, Nottingham Forest, Kieran Trippier, Alexander Isak
Newcastle United fans realised why Kieran Trippier looked set to take the injury time penalty against Nottingham Forest, before Alexander Isak smashed it home.
It was a huge Friday Night Football match up in the Premier League last night, as relegation threatened Forest hosted Champions League chasing Newcastle.
As we step towards the 'business end' of the season, clubs near the top and bottom are desperate for points, with only a small number in the middle having little to play for.
It looked like it might be a massive night for Steve Cooper's side, when Emmanuel Dennis gave them the lead, however Isak equalised with an audacious, Zlatan Ibrahimovic-esque, finish in injury time at the end of the first half.
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Eddie Howe's side thought they took the lead in the 64th minute, when Elliot Anderson rose above Serge Aurier to head home, after some ridiculous footwork from Isak.
However, VAR eventually decided that Sean Longstaff had been offside in the build up to the goal, though the referee had to check the monitor to decide if a Forest defender had played the ball.
The game looked set to end in a draw but, just one minute into the six injury time minutes, Moussa Niakhate stupidly, and rashly, blocked a header from the Swedish striker with his arm, and a penalty was obviously given.
As Forest players tried to delay it, with Keylor Navas picking up a yellow card, and Aurier standing by the spot, it looked like Trippier would take the spot kick, with the host's players giving him lip as he readied himself.
At the last moment, the full back switched with Isak, who smashed the ball home, and fans love that the tactic to take the heat off the former Real Sociedad striker worked to perfection.
"The face of Trippier knowing he's absolutely sh**-housing before that penalty. Love that. Our captain," one fan proudly said.
"Last week the pretend to time waste corner was amazing. This week, Trippier pretending to be taking the penalty is SO clever. Like properly clever as a way to take the pressure away from Isak," a second stated.
A third added, "Kieran Trippier holding the ball and smiling while Forest players tried to psyche him out before penalty - and then handing it to a totally chilled Isak to send keeper the wrong way a classic of the genre."
"Trippier standing on the spot and just lapping up their attempted mind games before handing the ball to Isak to whack it in is absolutely pure Eddie Howe Newcastle. Meticulous," posted a fourth.
"Trippier taking one for the team there protecting Isak from all the chat. Rate it," replied a fifth.
Another praised the full back's leadership skills, tweeting, "Great captaincy by Trippier. Unreal protection for Isak by pretending to take the penalty."
As someone who meant to put Isak in their fantasy football team this week but does have Trippier in it, I can't lie, I was disappointed with the decision to switch.
Howe certainly won't be too gutted though, with the win putting Newcastle right back in the hunt for Champions League places.
They are now just one point off Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand, and three off Manchester United in third, who have played the same number of games.
Jamie O'Hara also believes the Magpies will have a say in the title race, thinking Arsenal will crumble when they have to face Manchester City followed by Howe's side.
