Newcastle take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James Park. United still have injury Problems with Manquillo, Schar, and Wilson out for the Toon. Federico Fernandez didnt even feature as a substitute in todays fixture. Steve Bruce stuck with a familiar formation of 4-3-1-2 but with a return for Martin Dubravka in the place for Darlow in goal making his first appearance of the season. the full backs are Krafth on the right and Lewis on the left, with the centre back partnership remaining Lascelles and Clark. the trio in midfield are again Willock, Hayden and Shelvey. Just ahead of the trio is Almiron who again retains his favoured CAM position. Saint-Maximin is upfront alongside Joelinton who keeps his place in the starting line up despite last weeks injury concerns.
Wolves got us underway but it was Newcastle and Issac Hayden with the first oppotunity in the 5th minute when Shelvey played the ball back to Willock who scooped the ball into the box to find the head of Hayden but the contact was too soft and comfortably collected by the keeper. In the 12th minute Miguel Almiron got inside the Wolves defence from a good looping ball from Shelvey. Almiron only had the keeper to beat albeit from a tight angle but it just clipped the far post going wide. Even Krafth was getting in on the shots nine minutes later when Saint-Maximin passed the ball to Krafth, Krafth decided to have a go from distance and he struck a powerful shot but it was too central to beat Rui Patricio. Newcastle continued to pile on the pressure with Saint-Maximin using his incredible ability in his quick dancing feet to get inside the box. ASM took the shot which was blocked by the defence. The ball rebounded back to ASM off the leg of Willock and Saint-Maximin tapped it in, but the flag was up for off-side.
Half an hour gone at St James Park, it was Wolves turn to have a go with Ruben Neves floating a ball to the right far post to find Adama Traore who forced a good save from Martin Dubravka touching the post as the ball went out for a corner. Traore was involved again just four minutes later turning provider. Getting past Krafth with ease he plays the ball into the box and finds Pedro Neto who plays the ball wide. Wolves had a penalty claim in the 38th minute following a free kick which was drilled in from Neto. Neves headed the ball on and similar to the penalty the Mags won in the draw against Spurs earlier on in the season, Clark jumped up for the ball, with his back turned and arms flailing in the air the ball hit Clark's arm but VAR and Mike Dean the Referee ruled that it was accidental. At the end of the half Wolves had another good chance when Neto drilled the ball accross the face of the goal but there were noone on the other end. Half Time 0-0.
Change for Newcastle at half time with Miguel Almiron added to the treatment room from an knock he sustained in the 29th minute. Wolves came into the second half the same way they left the end of the first. with Traore providing a key pass to Neves who turns from the defence and drags the ball wide. But on the 52nd minute up stepped the Captain. Saint-maximin again dancing in and on the edge of the area. He some how finds the space to scoop in a cross that goes towards the other end of the box to find Fraser. Fraser then chips the ball in for Jamaal Lascelles who smacks in a bullet header pas the Portuguese keeper. 1-0.
Three minutes later United were back in again from a short free kick taken by Fraser to Shelvey who gets the shot wrong and sends the ball into the stands. But on the hour mark it was Wolves who had an effort that went over the bar from Neto who was approximately twenty yards out. One minute later Newcastle further added to their injury concerns with Saint-Maximin hobbling off the pitch to be replaced by Jacob Murphy.
In the 73rd minute the Newcastle defence could hold on no longer. Willian Jose broke through the middle and picked out a pass to Neto who was on the wing. Neto pinged the ball into the box to find Ruben Neves who resorted to using his head in the box rather than his right boot from 30 yards out. Arguably Dubravka could have done better but the header was too powerful for the Slovakian keeper to keep out. 1-1.
Eighty-one minutes gone and United really should have regained the lead with Murphy making his way forward he cut it back for Joelinton who curls the ball towards goal, beating Patricio but unfortunately for the mags Romaine Saiss was on the line to put the ball out for a corner which came to nothing. Newcastle didn't give up there, in the 87th minute Fraser and Shelvey tried to set each other up. In the end it was Shelvey that took the shot which took a deflection and out for a corner. Neto took the corner and out came Particio who puched the ball and his own man, Connor Coady. The game was stopped for a head inury but thankfully Coady recovered to play the rest of the game. Dubravka made up for conceding the equalizer into added time from a wolves corner that found the head of Wolves record signing Fabio Silva. Point blank range Dubravka spreads his arms in the air and makes the save with his shoulder, knocking the ball onto the crossbar and out of play for another corner. Final Score Newcastle United 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers.
For the most part of this Game the Mags were the better team. And unlike the Manchester United game, Newcastle didn't let off. were they perfect? No. But in recent weeks and especially today, United looked sharp and hungry. Unfortunately we go into the next game with more injuries in the squad with Miguel Almiron, Allan Saint-Maximin and Emile Krafth who was taken off towards the end of the game. We needed the win but a draw wasn't the end of the world. Despite the injuries the lads need to carry on and get three points in the upcoming fixtures, with a crucial game coming up next against a Westbrom team still in the relegation zone but fresh from a win against Brighton. United have played well in recent weeks. and Jonjo Shelvey played the best football he's played in a long time. So lets think positive.
By Sam West.
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