15 January 2025
Newcastle 3 Wolves 0
In-form Newcastle were glad to see that striker Alexander Isak was able to start, with the Swede unable to stop scoring at the moment. They welcomed Wolves to St James’ Park hoping other results went their way so they could cut the gap between themselves and the top four. The visitors were still without Matheus Cunha who was only fit enough for a place on the bench.
As you would expect, it was The Magpies in front of a sold-out stadium who started on the front foot. They use the size of the pitch to their advantage and stretch their opponents and Murphy managed to find some space to get a shot away. His drilled shot was superbly saved by Jose Sa to deny Howe’s side an early goal.
Guimaraes is able to pick a pass when in the final third of the pitch. He threaded the ball in between the defenders to pick out Isak at the back post. The striker cut inside onto his right foot and then tried to catch out the Wolves’ keeper with a ferocious shot to the near post. Fortunately for Pereira’s side Jose Sa tipped the effort around the post.
Wolves tried to get forward with the ball themselves but it just played into the hands of the hosts. When they hit them on the counter-attack, they were finding so much space on the flanks that they were tearing the visitors apart. Isak picked up the ball and dribbled across the edge of the area before pulling the trigger.
The Swede’s shot took a massive deflection off Ait-Nouri and wrongfooted his keeper. Not that The Magpies’ striker had to worry about having this one taken off him. His effort was on target and you will always keep a deflected goal if that is the case. St James’ Park erupted as it nestled in the back of the net and was no more than what the hosts deserved on the balance of play.
In their first real attack of the game, Wolves almost found an equaliser. Gomes did well to get to the byline and cut it back to Strand Larsen in the box. He opened his body up before looking to side-foot his shot into the far corner. He was inches away from doing just that as it struck the outside of the post and went behind.
Eddie Howe’s side went into the interval with a slender lead. Having created plenty of chances, he must have felt that it was just a matter of time before his team doubled their lead. For Vitor Pereira, he was in a real stick or twist situation, as to whether he should gamble on the fitness of his star man to try and find a way back into this match.
Soon after the break, the Portuguese manager broke and brought on Cunha. Wolves look a completely different side when he is playing, feeling they can take the game to anyone in the top-flight. However, the player has got some history of a dubious injury record, the last thing they wanted to do was to rush him back too early.
Guimaraes was a real danger in the middle of the park. He spotted Isak in space and the striker just had the easy task of beating Jose Sa in the visitors’ goal. Sending the keeper the wrong way, he calmly slotted home to double the visitors’ lead. It seemed a long way back for Wolves now The Magpies had control of the game.
Both sides looked to get forward whenever possible. Wolves’ biggest worry was leaving themselves open to the Newcastle counter. Isak weaved his way into the box again but in this instance his shot was blocked. He squared up the defender and unselfishly laid it off to Gordon, who swept it in the far corner to all but seal the game for the hosts.
St James’ Park was bouncing and their star striker had a part in all of their goals. Aside from bringing players in, The Magpies’ fans will just be happy to see the transfer window close with Isak still part of their squad. He was starting to attract a lot of interest from big clubs all over Europe. Every player has his price after all, even with Saudi owners.
Ait-Nouri got down the left-flank and whipped in a brilliant low cross to pick out Strand Larsen in the centre of the penalty area. His first time shot was well saved by Dubravka who somehow deflected it onto the crossbar. Nothing seemed to be going the way of the visitors, this was to be The Magpies’ night, that was more than evident.
The Magpies held on for all three points and as a result of Chelsea’s draw, they moved into fourth place in the Premier League table. After their solitary season in the Champions League under Eddie Howe’s guidance, Newcastle have a hunger to do it all over again. Wolves still managed to move out of the bottom three thanks to Ipswich Town’s defeat elsewhere.
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