Newcastle 3 Wolves 0 - Isak double and Gordon seal comfortable win

Star striker Alexander Isak made it 1-0 on the counter-attack, with a fortunate deflection, as Wolves hung on without conceding another before half-time.

But their resilience continued to be tested and two moments of disastrous defending allowed Isak to get his second, before Anthony Gordon made it 3-0.

Wolves had chances to bite back but never looked likely to get anything from the game, as they sunk back into the relegation zone.

Analysis

Vitor Pereira made one change from the side that beat Bristol City in the FA Cup, despite welcoming back three senior players to his squad.

Matheus Cunha, Nelson Semedo and Craig Dawson all returned to action but were only named on the bench, as Jose Sa replaced Sam Johnstone between the sticks in the only change.

Former captain Mario Lemina was not involved in the squad, despite being declared fit for the game by the head coach, after a bout of illness that saw him miss the Bristol game.

Lemina is keen to leave the club this month amid interest from several sides.

Wolves started the game well and the first half chance came when Rodrigo Gomes crossed low for Goncalo Guedes to take aim from the edge of the box, but he missed the ball entirely.

At the other end, Jacob Murphy had a strong shot that tested Jose Sa, but the goalkeeper did well to push it away from danger.

The hosts were pressing aggressively and almost created a good opportunity when Andre gave the ball away cheaply to Gordon, but Emmanuel Agbadou mopped up the danger.

But Wolves still carried a threat and came close when Hwang Hee-chan crossed from the left and Guedes’ shot flew inches wide of the post.

Gordon was a constant threat for the hosts but Wolves were also pressing aggressively at the right times and winning the ball back.

However, they were doing little with it on the transition and a couple of poor Jorgen Strand Larsen passes put more pressure on the defence, as Murphy took aim again and Sa saved.

As Newcastle pushed for the opening goal, Agbadou made a solid block to deny Gordon’s shot, as Wolves broke forward.

Dan Burn seemed to bring Guedes down but the officials did not award a free-kick, to the fury of the Wolves players and bench. Matt Doherty and assistant head coach Luis Miguel were booked for their protests.

Star striker Isak had been kept relatively quiet, until he handed Newcastle the lead after 34 minutes in a chance that came from a Wolves attack. Struggling forward Hwang had defender Tino Livramento isolated one-v-one, but passed backwards and poorly gave the ball away.

The Magpies broke and Isak cut in off the left, had a bit of luck to keep the ball and then had even more luck when his shot took a massive deflection off Rayan Ait-Nouri to find the bottom corner.

Wolves were struggling to contain Newcastle’s forwards and could not keep hold of the ball, but managed to create a huge chance when a long ball found R.Gomes and he cut it back for Larsen, who saw his first time shot hit the post.

Sandro Tonali then had a shot deflected just wide, as the half-time whistle blew.

As the second half got under way, Cunha was brought on to replace Hwang.

The Brazilian forward was involved straight away as Wolves worked the ball through the thirds and he took aim, but Martin Dubravka collected it.

Gordon had a clear shot on goal when Doherty lost it cheaply, but Santi Bueno did superbly well to put his body on the line and get enough on the ball to force a corner, which Wolves defended.

But Bueno was then left red faced with some poor defending, as Newcastle made it 2-0. A throw-in was played across to Bruno Guimaraes who played one pass to Isak, who Bueno left unmarked in the box, and he turned before easily finishing. 

Wolves looked unlikely to get back into the game, but had an opening when Larsen released Cunha and he charged into the box, but fired wide.

The game was then over as the hosts made it 3-0. Isak squared for Gordon, who was left completely unmarked for a tap-in.

Wolves thought they had a lifeline when Bueno tapped home from a Cunha corner, but VAR ruled it out for handball.

Larsen then had a routine finish from close range after an Ait-Nouri cross, but Dubravka got a touch on it and it crashed off the underside of the crossbar.

Pablo Sarabia had plenty of time and space in the box to get a goal back for his side, but instead shot straight at the goalkeeper.

After eight minutes of added time, Wolves slumped to defeat after a miserable evening in the North East.

Key Moments

GOAL 34 Isak finds the bottom corner via a huge deflection

GOAL 57 Isak doubles Newcastle’s lead

GOAL 74 Gordon makes it 3-0

Teams

Wolves: Sa, R.Gomes (Semedo, 69), Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou, Ait-Nouri, Andre (Sarabia, 86), J.Gomes (Doyle, 86), Guedes (Bellegarde, 69), Hwang (Cunha, 45), Larsen.

Subs not used: Johnstone, Dawson, Lima, Forbs.

Newcastle: Dubravka, Livramento (Tripper, 85), Botman, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton (Miley, 82), Murphy (Almiron, 78), Gordon (Willock, 78), Isak (Osula, 78).

Subs not used: Vlachodimos, Krafth, Kelly, Longstaff.