Goals from Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento helped Newcastle overcome Wolves and register their first home win in the Premier League since mid-December.
Sweden international Isak nodded in at the end of a sweeping counter-attack involving Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes, whose left-footed shot deflected off Craig Dawson and into the striker’s path.
Eddie Howe’s team doubled their advantage when Jose Sa and Max Kilman failed to deal with Jacob Murphy’s low cross and Gordon pounced on the loose ball to fire home.
Wolves had the lion’s share of possession at St James’ Park but failed to test Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka until midway through the second half, when half-time substitute Nathan Fraser’s low shot from the edge of the box was palmed clear.
Dubravka produced a superb stop to deny Pablo Sarabia moments later, but Livramento struck his first Newcastle goal in stoppage time to put the seal on the Magpies’ first home victory since their 3-0 win over Fulham on 16 December.
The win lifted Newcastle up to eighth in the table, while Wolves dropped to 10th.
Magpies rediscover home comforts
Three more points and a first clean sheet in two and a half months caps a satisfying week for Newcastle, who reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Championship side Blackburn on Tuesday.
Newcastle’s inconsistent league form has been a cause for concern but, after a slow start against Wolves, they looked more like the side that secured Champions League football for the first time in 20 years last term.
They appeared to gain in confidence after Isak’s 15th goal of the season and went close to doubling their lead when Dan Burn scuffed wide from the edge of the area.
Jacob Murphy shot straight at Sa not long afterwards, but the Wolves goalkeeper was at fault for Newcastle’s second, his attempted clearance from Murphy’s cross deflecting off Kilman and into Gordon’s path.
Newcastle’s Joe Willock, making only his second league start of the campaign, thought he had made it 3-0 in the second half but was denied by a superb goal-line block by the retreating Toti Gomes.
The only sour note for the hosts was an injury to captain Kieran Trippier, who was replaced by Livramento seven minutes into the second half.
The former Southampton full-back completed the scoring, skipping between two defenders before slotting the ball into the far corner.
The victory was Howe’s 100th in the top flight as a manager, but his team’s confident display on home soil will mean a great deal more than any personal milestones.
Wolves unbeaten away run ended
A run of six wins from nine league matches had lifted Wolves above Newcastle before this game, but manager Gary O’Neil will be disappointed with his team’s defending for the first two goals in particular.
The visitors were carved open too easily after Rayan Ait-Nouri lost possession before Isak’s header, while Sa and Kilman got in each other’s way for Gordon’s strike.
To make matters worse for Wolves, Sa and Pedro Neto were forced off through injury at half-time, with Dan Bentley and 19-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international Fraser coming on in their stead.
Wolves eventually sprang into life midway through the second half, creating a flurry of chances which Dubravka did exceptionally well to keep out.
After denying Fraser and Sarabia with eye-catching saves, Dubravka did well to hold on to Jeanricner Bellegarde’s goalbound header moments later.
But it was too little, too late for O’Neil’s team, who suffered their first away defeat since losing to West Ham on 17 December.
Player of the match
GordonAnthony Gordon
Newcastle United
-
Squad number10Player nameGordon
-
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
-
Squad number21Player nameLivramento
-
Squad number14Player nameIsak
-
Squad number28Player nameWillock
-
Squad number67Player nameMiley
-
Squad number5Player nameSchär
-
Squad number23Player nameMurphy
-
Squad number1Player nameDúbravka
-
Squad number4Player nameBotman
-
Squad number33Player nameBurn
-
Squad number2Player nameTrippier
-
Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
-
Squad number15Player nameBarnes
-
Squad number32Player nameAnderson
-
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Wolverhampton Wanderers
-
Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
-
Squad number15Player nameDawson
-
Squad number20Player nameDoyle
-
Squad number23Player nameKilman
-
Squad number21Player nameSarabia
-
Squad number5Player nameLemina
-
Squad number3Player nameAït-Nouri
-
Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
-
Squad number24Player nameToti
-
Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá
-
Squad number27Player nameBellegarde
-
Squad number25Player nameBentley
-
Squad number63Player nameFraser
-
Squad number17Player nameBueno
-
Squad number6Player nameTraoré
-
Squad number62Player nameChirewa
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Dúbravka
- 2TrippierSubstituted forLivramentoat 52′minutes
- 5Schär
- 4Botman
- 33Burn
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Bruno Guimarães
- 28WillockSubstituted forMileyat 70′minutes
- 23MurphySubstituted forAlmirónat 70′minutes
- 14IsakSubstituted forBarnesat 70′minutes
- 10GordonSubstituted forAndersonat 90+3′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Lascelles
- 15Barnes
- 17Krafth
- 18Karius
- 20Hall
- 21Livramento
- 24Almirón
- 32Anderson
- 67Miley
Wolves
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1SáSubstituted forBentleyat 45′minutes
- 23Kilman
- 15Dawson
- 24GomesSubstituted forBuenoat 60′minutes
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 5LeminaSubstituted forTraoréat 81′minutes
- 20Doyle
- 3Aït-NouriBooked at 85mins
- 21Sarabia
- 27BellegardeSubstituted forChirewaat 81′minutes
- 7NetoSubstituted forFraserat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Doherty
- 4Bueno
- 6Traoré
- 14Lemina
- 17Bueno
- 25Bentley
- 61Okoduwa
- 62Chirewa
- 63Fraser
- Referee:
- Tim Robinson
- Attendance:
- 52,206
Live Text
-
Match ends, Newcastle United 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
-
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
-
Foul by Boubacar Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
-
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
-
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Boubacar Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
-
Substitution, Newcastle United. Elliot Anderson replaces Anthony Gordon.
-
Goal! Newcastle United 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0. Tino Livramento (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Fabian Schär.
-
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Dan Burn.
-
Attempt blocked. Pablo Sarabia (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tawanda Chirewa with a cross.
-
Foul by Nélson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
-
Dan Burn (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt missed. Maximilian Kilman (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
-
Craig Dawson (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United).
-
Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
-
Foul by Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
-
Tino Livramento (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Source
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. All rights and credits reserved to respective owner(s).
Add Comment