NIGERIA internationals Emmanuel Dennis and Tyronne Ebuehi both scored in league fixtures tonight but they could not save their clubs from defeat.
Dennis netted the opening goal for Nottingham Forest at City Ground in their Premier League clash against Newcastle United but the visitors rallied back to win 2-1.
In Italy, full-back Ebuehi also scored the first goal for Empoli in their Serie A encounter at Atalanta, only to be beaten 2-1.
Making only his fourth league start overall and first since November, Dennis scored with an audacious chip from inside the Newcastle United box to give Forest the lead in the 26th minute.
It was his second Premier League goal for Forest since joining them from Watford in the summer but they could not hold on to the advantage.
Newcastle pulled level through Alexander Isak in first-half added time and the Sweden striker netted the winning goal from the penalty spot three minutes into stoppage time after a Forest player handled the ball in the box.
With the result, Newcastle moved to within one point of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.
Forest stay in the 14th spot, just two points above the relegation zone.
In Serie A, Ebuehi scored his second Empoli goal in his 16th appearance for the club he joined on a free transfer from Benfica last July.
He struck one minute before half-time but second-half goals from Marten De Roon and Rasmus Hojlund turned it around for Atalanta, who brought on Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman in the 76th minute as they chased the winning goal.
Atalanta are sixth in the table, three points adrift of AC Milan in fourth, while Empoli are comfortable in 14th place, nine points clear of the drop zone.
