Newcastle returned to winning ways and recorded their first win since January as they battled hard to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at St James’ Park. Goals from Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron either side of half time helped them return to winning ways. Hwang Hee-Chan did briefly level things up for the visitors half way through the second half.
Eddie Howe made five changes to the side that lost to Manchester City last weekend. Fabian Schar returned after missing out last time with concussion, Joe Willock returned in place of Joelinton who is suspended. There was also recalls for Alexander Isak, Allan Saint-Maximin and Jacob Murphy. Wolves recalled Raul Jimenez in place of Diego Costa who will be out for around one month with a knee injury. Adama Traore returned to the starting eleven alongside Jaoa Moutinho and Daniel Podence.
It was all Newcastle in the early stages as Murphy crossed into the box which Sa fumbled before gathering at the second attempt. Guimaraes drew a foul right on the edge of the box just after the ten minute mark, Trippier lined up to take the free kick but his effort was straight at the wall. Isak had a chance to put his side in the lead after the 15 minute mark when Saint-Maximin, Guimaraes and Burn combined to win a set piece which was lofted into the box but the Swedish striker couldn’t get proper contact with his header and it was gathered up by Sa. Pope could perhaps consider himself lucky not to have conceded a penalty half way through the first half, Botman played the ball back to the keeper who took a dodgy touch, Jiminez pounced and fell to the ground obviously looking for a penalty but VAR wasn’t having any of it. Newcastle took the lead after 26minutes and it was as through Isak. Trippier swung a free kick into the box and the big Swede rose to flick his header beyond the stranded Sa. Willock almost doubled the lead for the hosts on the half hour mark when he shot from close range but it was deflected wide. A couple of minutes later, Jimenez tested Pope from distance but the latter was equal to it. Guimaraes was denied by the woodwork with ten minutes left to play in the first half, Burn crossed into the box which the Brazilian rose highest to but his effort pinged back off the crossbar. Podence went close for the visitors as the half reached its final minutes, the Portuguese winger cut inside from the deep and sent a low shot towards goal which was denied by the post. Half Time Newcastle United 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
The second half got underway and Neves fired at goal but his effort was high and wide over the bar. Pope was nearly caught once more when he took too long to clear a back-pass, Jimenez raced in but couldn’t capitalise. There was then a frantic spell at both ends of the pitch, Isak drove at the Wolves defence before being tackled by Semedo, the visitors then broke up the other end of the pitch only to be stopped by Schar, the hosts then went up the other end and Willock fired towards goal but Sa saved. Trippier forced Sa into making a smart save as the hour mark approached from a shot outside the box. The visitors finally levelled things up with twenty minutes left to play, Hee-Chan got the goal after only being on the pitch a few seconds. It started when Trippier slipped as he tried to clear the ball, it bounced off Jimenez and fell to Hee-Chan who tapped in from a few yards out. Newcastle had a penalty appeal waved away by VAR when Schar was shoved in the box by Jimenez following a Trippier free kick. Newcastle retook the lead with ten minutes left to play and it was Almiron who found the back of the net. Willock revived the ball on the edge of the box, he managed to get it out of his feed and play through Almiron who took one touch and finished past Sa. Botman should have made it 3-1 to the hosts as we entered the additional five minutes of added time. Almiron got to the byline and pulled it back for Botman who missed from about eight yards. After what must have felt like an eternity for Newcastle fans, the full time whistle came. Full Time Newcastle United 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Sutty’s Full Time Thoughts: What a difference Isak makes! Thoroughly deserved his goal and it will hopefully kickstart his goal scoring record with us. He was constantly at the Wolves back line and causing them all sorts of problems. Allan Saint-Maximin had a good game for us, he terrified their defence and is back to his best..let’s hope he keeps this up for the remaining games! Wor Miggy, don’t you just love him! He’s had some stick in recent weeks but he’s knuckled down and got his goal today which he deserved. His goal this evening means he now has 11 goals for the Magpies in the Premier League this season. Jacob Murphy had an excellent game before being withdrawn for Matt Ritchie in the final ten minutes. Bruno had a quiet game for his standards, the midfielder looked tired, perhaps a mix of fatigue and his ankle injury is to blame for that. Newcastle now move up to fifth in the table overtaking Liverpool in the process and sit four points behind Tottenham with two games in hand. Eddie Howe’s entertainers are back!
What’s Next? Newcastle United host Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest on Friday 17th March in an 8pm KO. Wolves host Leeds United at Molineux on Saturday 18th March in a traditional 3pm KO.
Newcastle United Line Up: N Pope, K Trippier ©, S Botman, F Schar, D Burn, J Willock, S Longstaff, B Guimaraes, A Saint-Maximin (69 C Wilson), A Isak (69, M Almiron), J Murphy (83, M Ritchie).
Newcastle United Bench: M Dubravka, P Dummett, J Lascelles, M Targett, J Manquillo, M Ritchie, M Almiron, E Anderson, C Wilson.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Line Up: J Sa, C Dawson, Jonny (69, M Nunes), N Semedo, M Kilman, M Lemina, R Neves © (69, H Hee-Chan), D Podence (69, R Ait-Nouri), J Moutinho (75, N Collins), A Traore (45, P Neto), R Jiminez.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Bench: D Bentley, R Ait-Nouri, N Collins, Toti, M Nunes, J Gomes, P Neto, H Hee-Chan, M Cunha.
Match Officials: Andy Madley (Referee), Harry Lennard & Nick Hopton (Assistant’s), Craig Pawson (Fourth Official), Tony Harrington (VAR), Constantine Hatzidakis (Assistant VAR).
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