Chris Wood Treble Gives Nuno Espirito Santo First Win As Nottingham Forest Boss

Nuno Espirito Santo clinched his first win in charge of Nottingham Forest as Chris Wood's hat-trick against his former club Newcastle inspired a 3-1 victory, while Liverpool will go top of the Premier League if they avoid defeat at Burnley later on Tuesday. Wood left Newcastle to join Forest in a £15 million ($19 million) deal in June, but had scored only four times for his new club. The 32-year-old New Zealand international managed just two league goals for Newcastle last term, but he surpassed that meagre total with a treble in 60 minutes at St James' Park. Alexander Isak's first half penalty put Newcastle ahead, but Wood equalised just before the break.

He struck twice more in the second half to give former Tottenham manager Nuno his maiden victory with Forest in his second game in charge after replacing the sacked Steve Cooper.

It was Forest's first win in eight games and only their second success in their last 15 matches.

Forest moved five points clear of the relegation zone ahead of the rest of the day's matches.

Newcastle's fifth defeat in their last seven games in all competitions leaves them seven points adrift of the top four in seventh place.

Nuno's first game in charge ended in a painful 3-2 stoppage-time defeat against Bournemouth at the City Ground last weekend.

Newcastle took the lead in the 23rd minute when Sweden striker Isak was tripped in the area by Ola Aina.

Isak picked himself up to squeeze the penalty past Matt Turner for his 10th goal this season.

Anthony Elanga wasted two good chances to equalise when he fired into the side-netting and shot straight at Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka moments later when a pass to the unmarked Wood looked the better option.

Forest kept battling and they equalised