Elliot Anderson's late leveller against his former club Newcastle United guaranteed Nottingham Forest's Premier League survival.

The midfielder - who left St James' Park for the City Ground two years ago - equalised with two minutes remaining to lift Forest seven points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham United's defeat against Arsenal later on Sunday confirmed Forest's Premier League status for next season and meant it was mission accomplished for Vitor Pereira, who replaced Sean Dyche in February.

Harvey Barnes' strike looked set to keep Newcastle's slim European hopes alive when the substitute pounced in the second half.

That briefly lifted the Magpies up to ninth but they now sit 13th in a disappointing season following last year's fifth-place finish and Carabao Cup win.

William Osula went close for the Magpies when his free-kick hit the bar and Matz Sels spilled an earlier shot from Bruno Guimaraes, while Nick Pope's second-half save from Taiwo Awoniyi thwarted Forest.

Barnes struck with 16 minutes remaining when he ran onto Jacob Ramsey's pass and held off Morato to score but Anderson levelled when he collected James McAtee's short pass and gave Pope no chance from close range.

Newcastle did not need any reminder of what they had allowed to leave the club - but Anderson delivered one anyway.

The midfielder cost Forest £35m when he joined two years ago and, despite some debatable recent recruitment at the City Ground, he has been a stunning success.

His late equaliser pushed Forest to safety while damaging the Magpies' faint European hopes - and that scenario will not be lost on Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson, who helped bring Anderson to the Midlands club.

Anderson is certain to go to the World Cup with England after becoming a key member of Thomas Tuchel's squad and Forest will struggle to hold onto him in the summer, with Manchester United and Manchester City reportedly circling.

With no European football next season - those hopes ended with Thursday's Europa League semi-final defeat against Aston Villa - it is hard to envisage Anderson staying for another season.

He pointed to the sky after his goal in tribute to his mother Helen, for whom Forest laid a wreath on the pitch against Burnley last month after her death.

Forest have provided the perfect platform for the 23-year-old to flourish since he arrived in the Midlands and he has developed into one of the finest midfielders in the league.

Twenty-seven points thrown away from winning positions - it's the statistic that perfectly sums up Newcastle's bruising league season.

The visitors should have been out of sight at the City Ground.

They had numerous opportunities to open the scoring in the second half - even before substitute Barnes stepped up once again to deliver another goalscoring cameo.

The forward has bagged more memorable goals this season, including an opener against Barcelona and a double against Manchester City, but it looked like this strike would keep Newcastle's campaign alive as they chase a European spot.

But Eddie Howe's side have rarely looked entirely comfortable when in front this season.

Despite having far more recovery and preparation time than Forest, who were playing their third game of the week, Newcastle were punished for some tired defending late on as Anderson haunted his boyhood club.

His name had been sung by the away end at one point, as a much-admired academy graduate who was only sold so the club could avoid a breach of profit and sustainability rules in 2024.

But it was Forest supporters who were serenading the 'Geordie Maradona' at full-time after he drove into the box and fired beyond a helpless Pope.

Nottingham Forest head to Manchester United next Sunday (12:30) before finishing the season at home to Bournemouth on 24 May (16:00).

Newcastle host West Ham on 17 May (16:30) then go to Fulham to end the season a week later (16:00).