Newcastle United held on for a vital victory over Nottingham Forest, but Eddie Howe says his side's second-half collapse left the 4-3 win feeling like a defeat.

Howe's hosts surged into a 4-1 lead in a chaotic first half, with Alexander Isak scoring twice, along with goals for Jacob Murphy and Lewis Miley, after Callum Hudson-Odoi's sixth-minute opener.

Nikola Milenkovic pulled one back in the second period, however, before Ryan Yates' 90th-minute strike teed up an avoidable nervy ending.

Newcastle survived the waves of late pressure, though, clinging on for the win to move into fifth in the Premier League table, just three points shy of Forest.

Despite the crucial three points, Newcastle manager Howe was left disappointed after an enthralling contest on Sunday at St. James' Park.

"It's a feeling we have to remember. It feels like we lost the game, but we won the game and got points over Nottingham Forest," Howe told Sky Sports.

Newcastle have now won 13 of their last 16 games in all competitions (L3), which is the most wins by any Premier League side since this run started on December 14.

It could have been a different story, however, as Forest wanted a last-gasp penalty for Anthony Gordon's challenge from behind on Yates.

That would have marked a fitting end to a remarkable top-flight clash, though Howe was just pleased to see his side get over the line.

"Great to win. You have to remember that at the end. Crazy game, but that's why we love it I suppose," he added.

"Two sides of us. The first half was excellent. A great response to going down. The second half was equally bad really. We struggled to get to grips with the momentum when it turned against us.

"At our best, we're free-flowing, an attacking team, dynamic. You saw the best of us in the second half.

"My brain goes to the second half. We weren't perfect. On a snap reaction, that's what I'll say."

Isak's double saw him move onto 50 Premier League goals in just 76 appearances; only six players have ever hit a half-century of strikes faster in the competition's history.

His first came from the penalty spot after VAR adjudged Ola Aina had handled Lewis Hall's cross, the Swedish striker just about sneaking the spot-kick past Matz Sels, who got a hand to his effort down the middle.

The second Isak strike came after Joe Willock's excellent pass, with Murillo's deflection helping it past Sels, and making the Newcastle forward Sweden's highest-ever scorer in the competition's history.

"It is huge and when he plays like he did in the first half he is massive for us," Howe said of Isak on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"He showed his pace and the timing of the run was excellent. Big player."