Newcastle 3 Wolves 0
Eddie Howe is having a reality-checking campaign after the exploits of last season. They welcomed Wolves to St James’ Park with the visitors sitting one point above them in the Premier League table. It has been a turbulent season for The Magpies and they were looking to change that.
The visitors were missing a host of attacking options for the trip. Despite this, they almost had the first sight of goal as Pedro Neto weaved his way through the Newcastle defence before a last-ditch tackle from Fabian Schar stopped him from getting a shot off.
Gary O’Neil’s side continued to press but a loose pass from Ait-Nouri was cut out and Gordon sprang clear for the hosts. He fed the ball to Guimaraes who looked to shoot but his effort was blocked before it looped up to the back post for Isak to head home.
It was a harsh lesson for the visitors on just how quickly Newcastle can hit you on the break with the pace of Gordon if you throw bodies forward. St James’ Park erupted as they took an early lead, largely against the run of play.
Credit: @NUFC
The ex-Everton winger was causing all sorts of problems for the visitors. He found Dan Burn in the box but he dragged it wide of the goal as most centre backs would. O’Neil needed to find an answer to the Anthony Gordon question if they were to get anything out of this game.
As torrential rain beat down in the North-East, it was soon to sum up the mood of the visitors. Murphy played a ball in behind the defence, Sa and Kilman had a coming together and Gordon was there to slot home with an empty goal beckoning.
Fortunately the rain eventually stopped in the second half, but the Newcastle pressure did not. Gordon did well down the left again and put a dangerous ball into the six yard box. Willock got there with a diving header but Gomes did brilliantly to clear off the line.
The Magpies were starting to look like that the team that was flying high last season once again. In a rare counter-attack Lemina ran through the middle before finding Fraser. His shot seemed to be heading into the bottom corner before Dubravka got down to save it.
Wolves threatened once again as Bellegarde clipped a ball into the back post for Sarabia to meet on the volley. Dubravka made a fantastic reaction save at his near post to keep the ball out and protect the hosts’ two-goal lead.
Guimaraes then played a sublime ‘no-look’ pass to Almiron at the back post. However, sub keeper Bentley reacted quickly to get out and block the shot before the Paraguayan could slot it past him. The build-up play deserved a goal after that pass.
Credit: @NUFC
Newcastle sealed the three points when Livramento cut inside from the wing as he stumbled past two Wolves’ defenders before scuffing the ball into the bottom corner. It will certainly not be a goal of the month contender but it was his first since his move from Southampton.
Many have commented in the past how young Eddie Howe looks, but the trials and tribulations of such a poor season seem to be turning him into David Moyes overnight facially. Hopefully this victory will put them on a good run, so as to not cause anymore frown lines for the manager.
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