Newcastle United scrap to a decent point against Wolves, who waste their dominance with poor shooting
Jacob Murphy spent most of this match in a Newcastle defence resembling a barcode across the Molineux pitch, before a moment of quick-thinking earned his team a point completely against the odds.
Steve Bruce will not mind his team being difficult to watch at times, with Murphy among five at the back and three midfielders protecting them. Bruce will be judged on results this season and this was a draw at the home of a team with ambitions of qualifying for Europe.
His team looked like they were heading to a narrow defeat when Raúl Jiménez finally made the breakthrough with a volley that found the top corner. But with one minute left on the clock Murphy spotted Wolves wall poorly set up and curled a free-kick into the near post, catching Rui Patricio off-guard.
“On the night before the match in the hotel I did a bit of research on the goalie and knew anything hard and low would catch him out,” said Murphy. “I looked around the side of the wall and saw a little gap there. And I thought 'hit it there'.”
It was the fourth straight 1-1 draw between these two and a lovely moment for Murphy as his future looked uncertain over the summer, with his place in Bruce’s 25-man squad by no means guaranteed. He has forced his way into his manager’s plans with hard work on the training ground, not least on the set-pieces he was practicing on Thursday after regular training.
He was part of a defensive formation that was put together out of necessity over design, given the injuries that have impacted his squad. They had also taken a hammering last week against Manchester United and his patched-up team managed to get something from this game. Bruce had a winger as a defensive midfielder and forwards in midfield.
“We've tried to be a bit more open in the last couple of weeks and got a couple of hidings,” Bruce said. “We've addressed that. The workrate and the resilience was there against a very good side, so a point is a very good result for us especially with the problems we had.
“I asked some of them to play out of position, not completely out of position but you know what I mean.”
Wolves’ eye-catching performances this season means they will have to get used to teams coming to their turf and looking to sit back. They are happier counter-attacking against dominant teams and much of Sunday's game saw them trying to work out different ways to break down Newcastle’s defence.
Karl Darlow, who has made the most saves in Europe’s top leagues this season, was only called into action once in the first half, a parry from Daniel Podence’s shot from outside the penalty area.
Wolves believe they should have been awarded a penalty in the second half when Podence had a shot blocked in the penalty area. Federico Fernandez had his back to the ball when he slid to the floor, although Nuno Espirito Santo clearly felt he was in an unnatural position and a spot-kick could have been given.
“My view on the pitch is that the ball goes on the direction of the goal,” said the Wolves manager.
Mason did not deem it worthy of a second look on the pitchside monitor, with Nuno complaining as play carried on. Nuno made his move by bringing on Adama Traore for the final quarter of the game.
But it was Jimenez who made the breakthrough, volleying crisply into the top corner after Pedro Neto’s free-kick was cleared to him on the edge of the area.
It looked like a third straight 1-0 win for Nuno’s team, only for Murphy to strike. Conor Coady was ruled to have pushed Callum Wilson and while Wolves waited for Miguel Almiron to take the set-piece, Murphy curled around the wall into Rui Patricio’s near post.
“After the free-kick we have to set up the wall correctly,” said Nuno. “The ball cannot go on that side of the wall so the set-up was not correct. After that it is clear, everyone knows if it goes around the side, the goalkeeper should be there.
"We were without problems until we got the goal we deserved, and then we should manage the game better.”
06:22 PMFull time: Wolves 1 Newcastle 1
Full time: Wolves 1 Newcastle 1
Not the greatest game, but it was not dull and it was tightly and enthusiastically contested. Wolves created enough openings to win it but their profligacy with the final ball and their shooting cost them. Newcastle fought hard and will be well satisfied that a makeshift side managed to come here and get a point. We will get to a match report very soon. Thanks for following.
"The ball cannot go in at that side of the wall, the short side. If they go over the wall then okay but no, not at that corner," says Nuno Espirito Santo, himself a former goalie in the Sky post match interview of the shonky keeping at that equaliser.
06:21 PM90 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 1
90 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 1
Wolves try to get the winner that they probably deserve. Almiron with some good battling to defend. And they have done enough! That is it.
06:18 PMGOAL! Wolves 1 Newcastle 1 (Murphy 88)
GOAL! Wolves 1 Newcastle 1 (Murphy 88)
Murphy has whipped in a direct freekick at the near post!
"The wall is not right," says Carra. "The wall should be set further over. But you have to blame the goalkeeper, it's up to him to tell them where to stand."
It was very soft. A freekick near the corner of the penalty box, down the Newcastle right. A left footer dummied it and then the right back Murphy just whipped it low around the bottom of the outside of the wall. Surely you should not be scoring that.
Coady the man who gave away the free for fouling Wilson, Rui Patricio the keeper who is in the doghouse.
06:15 PM87 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 0
87 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 0
Talking of hit and miss sort of guys, here is Andy Carroll! They wheel the big man, man bun and all, into position and there's a freekick for Jacob Murphy to deliver.
06:15 PM86 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 0
86 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 0
Newcastle having a go now. Joelinton and Longstaff have joined the fray. Here is Big Joe Linton putting it about.But there's very little bite or threat from the Mags today, if truth be told. Saint-M is a hit or miss sort of a guy and it wasn't his day. He came off for Longers.
06:11 PM82 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 0
82 mins: Wolves 1 Newcastle 0
Quite mad that Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are in my mind and lifetime really a second tier club, bringing on 126 cap Portugal great Joao Moutinho as a late sub, but there we are. Neves the man who makes way for his countryman.
06:10 PMGOAL! Wolves 1 Newcastle 0 (Jimenez 80)
GOAL! Wolves 1 Newcastle 0 (Jimenez 80)
Jimenez has finally hit one! A freekick into the Newcastle box, they manage to head it half clear but sadly straight to Raul Jimenez on the edge of the box. Curious place for a centre forward to be standing, but he was in the right place at the right time. He volleyed it at the goal and it went through a busy area and into the net. Should the goalie have done more? Was he unsighted?
27 of Jimenez's 34 Premier League goals have come after half time.
06:06 PM78 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
78 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
The Newcastle guys clinging on well, fighting hard and defending as a unit. Can they hold on for what would be a very satisfactory point?
06:05 PM76 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
76 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Jimenez toe pokes it at goal, it's blocked, he wins it back and the shot is again charged down. Not sure it's his day, Raul.
06:04 PM75 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
75 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Really dangerous cross, Lascelles does really well with a clearing block. uses his chest.
06:01 PM73 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
73 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
There's that man Adama Traore, no finer sight in the PL than him running at a player. Newcastle stand up well to him though and see off the danger.
There's Fabrice Muamba in the ground. Not sure exactly what his role is but good to see him.
05:59 PM71 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
71 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Wolves corner. Darlow with a beefy punch clear.
05:56 PM69 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
69 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Wilson drives forward, the move half breaks down and Kendrick has a so-so long range effort. No dramas with that.
05:55 PM67 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
67 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Sorry to see Podence off, he's provided the quality on display. Saiss also gets the hook.
Traore comes on, Marcal too.
05:54 PM64 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
64 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Looks like Wolves are readying the exciting impact sub that is Traore. Newcastle are doing okay at the moment, but it is Wolves who are dictating terms.
Murphy fouls Neto. Freekick opportunity. Again it's nothing to write home about.
Neves the latest to try his luck from rangle.
05:49 PM60 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
60 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Murphy drives down the right, manages to bundle in a cross, Wilson slips it to Almiron who shoots. Deflection, bit of a scramble, Wolves have enough numbers back and they repel boarders. Good physical battle, the mighty Conor Coady also invovled.
05:46 PM57 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
57 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
It's all Wolves. Newcastle cannot get out. Here is Podence down the right, Semedo joining in. Move breaks down.
05:44 PM55 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
55 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Well, the game needs a bit of confected controversy, and here's a VAR appeal for a handball. Podence cuts inside, shoots, it hits Fernandez of Newcastle on the arm as he dives. No penalty given. And correctly.
05:40 PM51 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
51 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle win a corner via Fraser. The visitors try to work a short one but Saint-Maximin carthorses the ball out of play. Been a low quality affair this, the contributions of Podence and Semano, earlier, excepted.
05:38 PM50 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
50 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle lose it! Ooh dangerous from Wilson, tries to dribble and loses it 30 yards out. Podence brings it forward, picks out Neto who catches the ball crisply enough but off target.
05:36 PM47 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
47 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Podence slips it inside, nice bit of creativity. Jimenez carries it, Lascelles puts him under pressure and Raul Jimenez tries another shot from a long way out, this one as bad as any of its predecessors and that's 15 yards wide.
05:33 PM46 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
46 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Second half begins. Wolves have the ball and plenty of space and time.
05:30 PMWolves had most of the ball in the first half
Wolves had most of the ball in the first half
I tend to think they're at their best as a counterpunching operation.
05:19 PMHalf time: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Half time: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Dendoncker is just about to shoot when the ref blows the whistle. Judging from the quality of shooting so far, it would not have made much of a difference.
The half ends as it had begun, with Wolves well on top but lacking sharpness and precision at the key moments in the final third. Newcastle got their tactics flat wrong in the first 15 but have rallied well enough.
05:16 PM44 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
44 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Lovely bit of skill from Podence leaves two Newcastle players -Murphy and one other - for dead. "Those two will have to pay to get back in," jokes Jamie Carragher as the Newcastle players lunge in totally the wrong direction!
05:14 PM42 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
42 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Saint-Maximin drops his shoulder, drives at goal and hits a lot shot. Deflection! Could have gone anywhere, but lucky for Rui Patricio it does not deviate too far. Boly, I think it was, who deflected it - the ball was hit into a bit of a crowd scene.
05:12 PM40 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
40 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Almiron clatters Neto and that's a yellow all day long. Freekick. Rubbish dead ball from Neto. Both sides have been severely lacking in their final ball.
05:11 PM38 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
38 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Cross again for Wolves, this time from the left, Podence in the game. He crosses after a nice piece of skill by Jimenez cannot do much with the header.
Wolves turning the screw here.
05:09 PM37 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
37 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Neto at it again. Cuts to the byline, pulls it back but Scharr heads away.
Jimenez is not on his game, he's lost out to Almiron, Newcastle break and here's Saint-Max! Oh dear, he's got that all wrong. Neither a cross nor a shot.
05:08 PM35 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
35 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Here's Pedro Neto with a swerving cutting run inside, tries to chip it over to a colleague but without success.
05:06 PM33 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
33 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle need Shelvey in that midfield I think, they lack leadership and passing.
05:02 PM29 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
29 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Bit of a hospital pass to Podence there, hard but fair tackle from Schar leaves the Wolves man nursing a sore one. Chilly evening for it, as well.
05:00 PM27 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
27 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle are playing the game a bit higher up the pitch now, well a lot higter in fact, which is allowing their wing backs to push the Wolves wide defenders back rather than just letting have their way.
Alain Saint-M with a jinky run that sees not one but two Wolves players foul him. The Mags have a freekick but cannot get it past the first man, which is a shame.
04:58 PM25 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
25 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Pretty evenly matched now but Wolves will be thinking they ought to have made that near-total dominance count earlier.
04:57 PM23 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
23 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Miguel Almiron with a cross but Wolves have three centre backs, and one of them was always likely to get on it - Kilman it was who tidies up.
A quiet period of the game.
04:53 PM20 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
20 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Better from the visitors, who are enjoying some time in the opposition half and asking some questions with their physicality.
04:49 PM17 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
17 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle's first sortie forward, a promising run well from Wilson well watched, well marshalled and then eventually well tackled by Kilman.
Lascelles does Saiss a favour by fouling him when he was going nowhere.
04:48 PM16 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
16 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Not sure at all about the Newcastle set up. A flat back five who are run off their feet. The midfield three don't seem to be doing much of anything. The two guys up front, well, they could have saved on their petrol money/train fare as it currently stands.
04:45 PM13 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
13 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle are getting killed down the tight. Jamal Lewis needs help in that left back role. Neto wriggles through down the right, plays it to Jimenez, but his shot is again awful.
04:42 PM11 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
11 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
All Wolves right now. Semedo again in the game, crosses for Jimenez but he snatches at the shot.
04:41 PM10 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
10 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle try to play it out from the back, but play themselves into trouble. Podence with another shot. Well over.
04:39 PM8 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
8 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Amazing stat from Sky - Darlow has made more saves than any goalie in the top five European leagues this season! He's faced 39 shots in the PL so far, only Fulham have allowed a similar number. That would suggest that Bruce needs to sort his defence out, because he's not going to keep saving them for ever.
Here is Darlow gathering a corner with some authority.
04:37 PM6 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
6 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Newcastle back off Daniel Podence, allowing him time to measure out a hard low shot. Decent stop from Darlow in the Newcastle goal.
Semedo is making things happen down the right for Wolves.
04:36 PM4 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
4 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Coady finds Semedo with a nice long diagonal but not a lot comes from it.
04:35 PM3 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
3 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Schar plays the all forward and it hits a plastic bottle that must have been left on the pitch in the warm up.
Distracted perhaps be that, he's now given the ball away and Wolves have a chance to build.
04:34 PM2 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
2 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Kilman, the young centre half, is making his third start in a row for Wolves. Alain S-M the danger he will be facing up to.
04:33 PM1 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
1 mins: Wolves 0 Newcastle 0
Some midfield battling to start us off with, and here is Saint-Maximin with the first run forward of the match, down the right, but runs into traffic.
04:31 PMThe players take a knee
The players take a knee
and Wolves kick off.
04:31 PMHere's the teams again
Here's the teams again
Wolverhampton: Rui Patricio, Boly, Coady, Kilman, Nelson Semedo, Dendoncker, Neves, Pedro Neto, Saiss, Jimenez, Daniel Podence. Subs: Hoever, Ait Nouri, Marcal, Silva, Ruddy, Joao Moutinho, Traore.
Newcastle: Darlow, Fraser, Lascelles, Fernandez, Lewis, Schar, Hendrick, Murphy, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Wilson. Subs: Carroll, Joelinton, Hayden, Krafth, Manquillo, Gillespie, Sean Longstaff.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
04:29 PMNeves in for Moutinho for Wolves
Neves in for Moutinho for Wolves
but it's an otherwise unchanged side for the hosts.
Newcastle mix it up quite a bit more, and it looks like they are going for a back three.
04:28 PMKieron Dyer on Sky Sports
Kieron Dyer on Sky Sports
"Wolves are still a selling club, so it is always hard when the top four come calling for their players. Can they hold on to their top players if that happens? I don't think so."
Not sure I have ever seen Kieron doing punditry before.
"Newcastle are still in transition, I hope Steve Bruce is given time to sort things out."
04:25 PMKick off coming up shortly
Kick off coming up shortly
Wolves are an excellent outfit here, but Newcastle are in a decent shape at the moment. Hopefully we will see a confident and open game.
04:22 PMThe players are
The players are
warming up on the pitch.
Here's Nuno: "We are improving, it was a quick turn around in the pre-season. With no fans there is no home factor, there is no edge without the fans there it is just a football match and you have to focus."
Here's Coady: "We are here to improve, we are here to get better. We know it is always hard when we play Newcastle."
04:05 PMElsewhere
Elsewhere
Good result for Southampton, Everton's early season momentum has definitely slowed if not stalled. A lot of those clubs in what you might call the 'middle' rank - I mean your Evertons, your Newcastles, your West Hams, your Villas, your Wolveseses and I guess Southampton and Palace are either having decent starts or have reason for optimism. With both Manchester clubs in a pickle there's no reason why we couldn't have a shake up this season and maybe see someone else get into the top six.
Wolves and Newcastle will feel they have decent shouts.
03:34 PMTeam news for Wolves vs Newcastle
Team news for Wolves vs Newcastle
Wolverhampton: Rui Patricio, Boly, Coady, Kilman, Nelson Semedo, Dendoncker, Neves, Pedro Neto, Saiss, Jimenez, Daniel Podence. Subs: Hoever, Ait Nouri, Marcal, Silva, Ruddy, Joao Moutinho, Traore.
Newcastle: Darlow, Fraser, Lascelles, Fernandez, Lewis, Schar, Hendrick, Murphy, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Wilson. Subs: Carroll, Joelinton, Hayden, Krafth, Manquillo, Gillespie, Sean Longstaff.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
03:22 PMTeam news should be
Team news should be
with us shortly
01:38 PMGood afternooon
Good afternooon
And welcome to our live blog of the Premier League match between Wolves and Newcastle, it comes to you from Molineux and the kick off is at 4.30pm. We will have the team news about an hour beforehand, at 3.30pm, when we will find out which players Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo, and his beard, select to meet the challenge of visiting manager and enduing Bernard Cribbins-alike Steve Bruce and his men.
Wolves come into the fixture with nine points from five games, the Geordies have seven from the same number of fixtures. At time of writing that means it is 10th plays 14th, albeit that the Southampton and Everton fixture currently in progress means the league positions could change.
This match is on TV. Here is a cracking news story about Newcastle fans and PPV - they balked at paying 15 quid for that Sky match last weekend and donated 16 grand instead to a food bank.
Newcastle fans raise £16,000 for charity by boycotting pay-per-view match
Luke Edwards, our man in the North East reporting on that:
Newcastle supporters raised £16,000 by choosing to give to charity rather than watching their team on pay-per-view at the weekend, a fans' group has said.Premier League matches in October which have not been earmarked for regular televised coverage can only be watched live via Sky Sports or BT Sport box office services for a fee of £14.95.Many fans felt that was a step too far when they already pay regular subscriptions to broadcasters as well as for season tickets to watch their team in person, something the coronavirus pandemic currently prevents them from doing....
And thematically linked to that story, maybe, here is Big Steve Bruce taking aim at the top six clubs.
Steve Bruce has criticised the ‘Big Six’ for trying to take control of English football with their controversial Project Big Picture proposal but said the easiest way to save lower league clubs was for the Government to stop blocking the return of fans.
Bruce has argued for weeks that it is ridiculous supporters are not allowed into open air stadiums as long as they can socially distance inside but he cranked up those attacks after expressing his relief the ‘Big Six’ power grab had been blocked.
