Having fallen to a midweek UEFA Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United would be keen to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday. In their way would be a buoyant Wolves side, unbeaten in the league since their loss to Liverpool in mid-September.
WOL: Sá; Toti, Dawson, Kilman, Semedo; Aït-Nouri, Traoré, Lemina, Neto; Cunha, Hwang
NEW: Pope; Burn, Schär, Lascelles, Trippier; Joelinton, Guimarães, Longstaff; Gordon, Wilson, Almirón
Unbeaten in their last six Premier League games, Newcastle United took the lead after just 22 minutes through Callum Wilson – hooking an acrobatic effort past Jose Sá after the initial effort was poorly cleared by Toti.
Nick Pope was called upon frequently with Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto both fashioning promising opportunities for the hosts to restore parity, but it was Mario Lemina that found the leveller with less than ten minutes remaining before the break.
Embed from Getty ImagesPedro Neto’s whipped effort into the box from a corner was met beautifully by the midfielder, rising highest to head home a decisive goal that would spark euphoric celebrations amongst the home crowd.
But the first-half action wasn’t over, and four minutes into stoppage time, Callum Wilson completed his brace to ensure Newcastle United held the advantage at the break. Hwang Hee-chan was judged to have fouled Fabian Schär inside the area – and while the replays showed that there was no contact, the on-field decision stood, allowing the striker to bury an effort past Jose Sá.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe South Korean forward would make amends for his apparent foul, equalising once more to secure a valued point for Wolves against a high-flying Newcastle United side. Newcastle now sit sixth in the Premier League standings, with Wolves just outside the top half of the table in 12th.
