Forest’s Wood scores hat-trick as strugglers move clear of relegation zone

Nottingham Forest have climbed out of the Premier League’s relegation zone on the back of a high-class hat-trick by New Zealand captain Chris Wood. The former Newcastle United striker’s treble stunned his previous club to prompt much talk of ghosts of Christmas Past.

The win meant Luton stayed in the bottom three despite a 3-2 win at Sheffield United aided by two own goals.

At the other end of the table Liverpool won 2-0 at Burnley to leapfrog Arsenal into first place. Arsenal host West Ham on Thursday.

Elsewhere Bournemouth continued their fine form with a 3-0 defeat of Fulham on the south coast.

Chris Wood scores against Newcastle United for Nottingham Forest. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Newcastle had taken the lead at St James Park through a 23rd-minute Alexander Isak penalty.

Wood levelled in first-half injury-time, tapping in following a counter-attack, then scored two fine individual goals in seven minutes early in the second half.

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