Wolves and Newcastle United drew 1-1 for the fourth game running, but the hosts were left the more disappointed, after their thoroughly dominant performance wasn’t rewarded fully. Raul Jimenez’s thought he’d won his side the points with a smart finish from the edge of the box, but the Magpies had other ideas.
With two minutes remaining , Jacob Murphy’s free-kick snuck around the wall and inside Rui Patricio’s post to earn the visitors a share of the spoils. Wolves enjoyed 63 per cent of the possession and registered 16 shots, but unfortunately, the majority fell off target and the old gold were denied a third straight win late in the day.
Wolves have been known for taking their time to feel out a contest at times this season, but that wasn’t the case at Molineux on Sunday, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men started on the front foot. The lively Daniel Podence had already stung the palms of Karl Darlow before he robbed Jeff Hendrick of possession and fired another warning sign over.
With Wolves impressing going forward, it was inevitable Jimenez would be at the centre of their good work, and he twice miscued, when he’d have hoped to do better. The hosts continued to threaten as the half wore on – on the one occasion Pedro Neto got in behind Jamal Lewis, but couldn’t pick up a gold shirt in the middle.
The lack of a breakthrough was almost punished too when Newcastle sprung into life on the counter attack from a Wolves free-kick and had Allan Saint-Maximin fed by Miguel Almiron, and once on his right foot, the Frenchman left fly with an effort which took a deflection and needed Rui Patricio to readjust, before smothering on his right-hand side.
Half-time: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Like the first-half, Wolves started the second brightly, and Jimenez sliced his third effort off target. Then came the opportunity of Neto, who’d benefited from Podence’s quick feet and pick out from the left, but couldn’t keep his side-footed effort on target. While that chance fell on his right, the young Portuguese had an effort on his left soon after, but again missed the target.
The pressure continued to mount on the Magpies, but Wolves couldn’t find a way through. Even when Ruben Neves’ effort from a cleared Neto free-kick took a deflection, it simply took the sting out of the effort for Darlow to save. From that point, Nuno rang the changes, with Marcal and Adama Traore taking the place of Romain Saiss and Podence.
Jimenez then had the latest attempt saved by Darlow, following a smart turn, but finally, the first goal was just around the corner. Neto’s free-kick was only partially cleared by the resolute Newcastle defence and Jimenez was cleverly poised on the edge of the box, ready to steady himself and arrow an effort into the top corner. Finally, Wolves had their breakthrough.
However, there was a nasty sting in the tail for the hosts. With two minutes remaining, Joelinton won a free-kick for a foul by Conor Coady and the Magpies took advantage. Murphy stood over the dead ball and bent it around the outside of the wall and stuck his effort between Patricio and the post, for a cruel, late twist.
Full-time: Wolves 1 Newcastle 1
Wolves: Patricio, Semedo, Boly, Coady, Kilman, Saiss (Marcal 68), Neves (Moutinho 83), Dendoncker, Neto, Podence (Troare 68), Jimenez.
Unused subs: Ruddy, Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Silva.
Newcastle: Darlow, Murphy, Fernandez, Lascelles (Carroll 88), Lewis, Shar, Hendrick, Fraser (Joelinton 78), Almiron, Saint-Maximin (Longstaff 78), Wilson.
Unused subs: Gillespie, Krafth, Manquillo, Hayden.
