Newcastle see off Wolves to reignite top four hopes

Newcastle United ended their five-game winless run as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at St James Park on Sunday evening. The result also sees Eddie Howe’s men invigorate their push for a Champions League berth at the business end of the Premier League season.

Newcastle were the better of the two sides in the opening minutes of the games as they targeted Wolves’ right flank with Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak taking on the game to the visitors.

POPE SURVIVES VAR CALL

The Magpies, however, were lucky not to be down to ten men when goalkeeper Nick Pope brought down Raul Jiminez with a clumsy challenge.

VAR decided against punishing the goalkeeper as the hosts survived and went on to lead the game five minutes later. Isak headed home with a fine guiding header from Keiran Trippier’s magnificent cross from the right wing.

The home side should have doubled their lead in the 36th minute but Bruno Guimaraes headed against the post when he looked certain to score. It was end-to-end stuff as Daniel Podence then struck the post in the 39th minute as Newcastle went into the break with their noses ahead.

Wolves upped the ante in the second half playing with much more vigor and higher up the pitch in search of an equalizer. Joao Moutinho unleashed a fierce volley in the 65^th minute, but it was Pope who got down early to make a fine diving save.

The visitors were finally level when substitute Hwang Hee-chan restored parity with twenty minutes to go. After Tripper misjudged in his sliding tackle that took the ball away from Pope, Hee-chan slotted home into an empty net to stun the vociferous home crowd.

almiron wins it for Newcastle

However, the Magpies were not be denied as their own super sub Miguel Almiron scored the winner in the 79^th minute with a finely taken goal. The Paraguayan winger received the ball in the left flank from Joe Willock’s layoff and then rolled the ball past Jose Sa with a fine finish to give his side the lead.

Wolves did put numbers up in the final few minutes, but Newcastle held on for a much-needed victory. The result means that the Magpies now sit fifth with 44 points from 25 games, four points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham with two games in hand. Wolves, on the other hand, like 13^th with 27 points, 3 clear over the drop zone.  

Photo Credit: Imago / PA Images