Newcastle 1-0 Nottingham Forest – Premier League LIVE: Alexander Isak keeps his cool to score from the penalty spot to kickstart today’s Boxing Day bonanza of live festive football

One end to the other in a blink of an eye and Forest are level.

Almiron gets into the box and should shoot but opts to pass and Forest win the ball back.

They break quickly and Gibbs-White plays it to Elanga who squares for Wood to tap into the empty net.

Almiron pics the ball up in a central position and tries his luck from the edge of the box but he slipped and his shot goes well over.

Forest still having their moments and Gibbs-White drives upto the edge of the box as the visitors win the ball back.

His left footed shot goes well over the bar though.

Bruno nutmegs the Forest defender and then goes down in the box but it’s a slip rather than a trip and the referee rightly waves away any penalty appeals.

Lovely play from Isak as he leaves Danilo for dead and forces Turner to tip over his own bar.

Newcastle then make something of the resulting corner, but Miley’s header is straight at Turner.

Huge chance for Forest!

The ball is flicked on and Elanga is through. He has to square the ball to Wood for a tap-in but decides to go alone and Dubravka makes a brilliant save to his right.

Forest have had their moments and they get another one as a long throw goes through the six yard box but the ball is poked just wide.

Montiel has also just been booked for asking for a yellow card.

Two yellow cards in quick succession as Sangare and Gordon go into the book for late tackles.

In between that Gordon had a decent chance, but it was well blocked by a Forest defender.

Nervy moment at the back for Newcastle as Elanga almost gets in behind Burn.

The full back kicks it against Elanga and the ball rebounds into the arms of Dubravka.

So nonchalant from Isak as he steps up and places it to Turner’s left.

Newcastle take the lead.

Penalty to Newcastle!

Good intricate passing from Newcastle and Isak is tripped by Aina as he tries to turn.

VAR checking but this looks unlikely to be overturned…

Gibbs-White takes the corner and it comes out to the edge of the box to Aina, but he can’t keep his effort down as it flies well over the bar.

Very congested in the Forest box and Isak goes down looking for a penalty.

VAR checks it but nothing doing and Forest win a corner up the other end.

Forest trying to play out from the back and they make a mess of it, presenting the ball to Almiron on the edge of the box.

He passes to Miley who squares it for Trippier, but his cross is over-hit and goes behind for a goal kick.

Newcastle working the ball well down the right and Miley gets in after a clever pass.

Longstaff is alone in the six yard box but the cross drifts over his head. A wasted chance there for the hosts.

Lively start to this game as Trippier gets down the right and crosses into the box, but Forest clear their lines.

Gibbs-White nicks the ball off Miley in the penalty area and gets a shot off, but it’s scuffed wide of the post.

Will feel he should have done a little better there.

Newcastle win an early corner but opt to take it short and fail to get the ball in the box before Forest win a free-kick just inside their own half.

Both teams take a knee before kick-off, and we’re underway.

The players are out on the pitch.

Kick-off is just moments away…

Newcastle can call upon Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson up front, and have gone with the former today.

But their former full back Stuart Pearce has called for them to add another No9, pointing out that both men have had their fitness issues this season.

It has been a tough month for Trippier who has been at fault for a number of goals that have proved costly for Newcastle.

But former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee insists he has no concerns about the England man and still views him as one of the best players in his position in the world.

Both teams are out on the pitch warming up as we count down to kick-off.

The Boxing Day action will start in just over 20 minutes…

Given the injuries that Newcastle currently have, transfer business in January appears essential.

But he has stated that the team are expecting a number of players to return shortly, and indicated that a decision is more likely to be made on transfers in the latter half of January.

Howe is speaking to Amazon Prime and has admitted injuries have played a part in his side struggling for consistency this month.

Newcastle have been knocked out of two cup competitions in December, but Howe expects his players to be ‘physically OK’ as they look to finish 2023 on a high.

Chris Wood is returning to Newcastle today after previously playing for the Magpies.

He has experience of being involved in a relegation battle, and believes Forest will need to come together to get themselves out of trouble over the coming months.

Newcastle have a brilliant record at St James’ Park this season after winning eight of their nine league matches there this season.

Anthony Gordon has spoken to Amazon Prime ahead of kick-off and claimed it is ‘the best stadium by far’ in England.

The Magpies will be looking to give their fans something to cheer this afternoon in their final home game of 2023.

Nuno has revealed he received an apology from PGMOL chief Howard Webb for Willy Boly’s red card on the weekend.

He has claimed the apology has been accepted and Forest are ready to move on, although it has been reported that Forest want referee Rob Jones banned from their matches after making their second complaint of the season against him.

Forest have made six changes to the team that lost 3-2 to Bournemouth on Saturday.

They played more than half of that game with 10 men after Willy Boly was sent off, and Nuno has just told Amazon Prime that he has rotated his squad in a bid to see more ‘energy’ from his players.

Matt Turner gets the nod in goal, while Chris Wood starts up front against his former club.

Alexander Isak is back in the starting XI, while Joelinton makes the bench.

Captain Jamaal Lascelles misses out due to injury.

Keeping clean sheets has been difficult for Forest this season, and their new manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants some more help from his goalkeepers.

He has called for better performances from goalkeepers Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos. Which one will start in goal today?

Who will line up for both these sides for the first game of Boxing Day?

We are just 10 minutes away from finding out.

Joelinton has missed Newcastle’s last two matches with a hamstring problem but has arrived at St James’ Park today.

Could he go straight back into the starting XI?

This will be one of the final times that Nottingham Forest will have a full squad of players to choose from with the Africa Cup of Nations due to get underway in just over two weeks.

Forest could lose six players to the tournament that is set to last for four weeks.

Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of the first Premier League match on Boxing Day.

Newcastle will be hosting Nottingham Forest, with team news expected at 11.30.