Dwight Gayle took his goal tally for the season to 19 as Newcastle bounced back top the top of the Sky Bet Championship table with victory over 10-man Nottingham Forest.
Gayle's 63rd-minute volley and a scruffy second 10 minutes from time eventually settled a tight encounter after Nicolao Dimitru's first goal for Forest had cancelled out Matt Ritchie's early opener in front of a crowd of 52,228, the biggest of the season at St James' Park.
The win, coupled with the postponement of leaders Brighton's home game with Cardiff, saw Rafael Benitez's side leapfrog the Seagulls to finish 2016 in pole position.
Dwight Gayle at the double as Newcastle end 2016 top of the Championship
