Newcastle 1 Wolves 1 - Report

The longest run without a defeat for Nuno Espirito Santo's side this season was sealed after a topsy-turvy affair at St James' Park.

Jamaal Lascelles capitalised on shoddy marking to give the struggling Magpies the lead shortly into the second half.

Neves then burst up from midfield and magnificently nodded the ball beyond Martin Dubravka to level, before huge opportunities at either end.

Romain Saiss got in the way of Joelinton's strike on the line, and Wolves substitute Fabio Silva was astonishingly denied by Dubravka from a few yards out.

Ultimately, a point for Nuno's pack – a fair reflection of the game. The fifth successive 1-1 between the sides.

Analysis

Wolves rode their luck at times on Tyneside, but they can look back on the last month with their heads held high.

Of course, there are still things that need addressing but their work through February – considering how low confidence was at the turn of the year – is encouraging.

Neves turned into a top striker to level the scores and, as it turned out, clinch a point for the long trip home.

Jonny Castro Otto also, pretty much, got a full game under his belt. Saiss made a superb block as well to deny Joelinton, throwing his body on the line.

The form of goalless Willian Jose is a concern. The January arrival never looked like scoring in the north east, and it was a surprise to see him stay on the field for so long.

How they switched off for Newcastle's opener was another example of not attacking crosses with enough intent, too.

There are more positives than negatives at the minute, though.

Wolves, at the end of the day, are in a much better place than they were several weeks ago. It is far from perfect, but they are churning out results.

Match report

Wolves, having a nice amount of consistency and momentum behind them going into this clash, unsurprisingly named the same starting line-up for the third game running.

With Fernando Marcal sustaining another thigh injury and requiring surgery, though, Nuno decided to go with eight substitutes instead of the permitted nine.

Newcastle, meanwhile, brought goalkeeper Dubravka back into the side and had Joelinton leading the line in the absence of Callum Wilson – on the sidelines with a hamstring issue.

Wolves' players also took to the pitch wearing black armbands in tribute to club historian Graham Hughes, who passed away on Friday at the age of 87.

It was the Magpies who had the lion's share of possession in the opening stages, and the first chance. Joe Willock's inswinging cross was met by Isaac Hayden, but he could only head the ball straight at the thankful Rui Patricio.

Nuno's lot began poorly and were struggling to get out of their own half as they found themselves surrounded by black and white shirts.

The hosts should have taken the lead, too, as Miguel Almiron escaped the offside trap but – in a big left-off for Wolves – curled his strike onto the post.

Wolves were lacking urgency and aggression, while Newcastle kept getting shots off. Emil Krafth and Joelinton both forced Patricio into action, albeit fairly routine saves.

Jose was not making the ball stick in attack, so it was wave after wave from the home side.

Allan Saint-Maximin toyed with Leander Dendoncker down Wolves' right flank and thought he had given Newcastle the lead as he poked home from close range, after Patricio had denied Willock. Thankfully for Nuno's charges, the offside flag was raised.

From there, they did at least finish the first half in a better state.

Adama Traore began to make his mark and was involved in two good opportunities. The first saw him meet Neves' cross to the far post, with Dubravka tipping the ball wide.

The Spaniard then beat Krafth all ends up before cutting it back to Pedro Neto, who guided his first-time attempt wide when he really should have hit the target.

Neto sent in an inviting, low delivery just before the interval as well but, frustratingly, nobody was there to make a simple tap-in.

Wolves' wingers had stepped up, and striker Jose needed to follow suit.

The Magpies brought Ryan Fraser on for Almiron at the start of the second period, and the substitute made a swift impact.

Slack defending was punished as his whipped cross was emphatically headed home by Lascelles – given a free run at it as the flat-footed Dendoncker completely switched off.

All things considered, it was a deserved opener for Newcastle.

Wolves' attacking presence waned, too, with Jose continuing to be totally ineffective through the middle.

Traore and Neto were still trying to make things happen, but the Brazilian was giving them nothing to aim at. Far too static and predictable. Nuno, though, was in no rush to make a change. The clock hit 60 minutes, then 70, and the Real Sociedad loanee remained out there.

So, Neves took it upon himself to come up with a headed finish any centre forward would have been proud of.

An out-of-character surge into the box saw him perfectly time his run, meeting Neto's cross and powering it beyond Dubravka.

Silva finally replaced Jose late on in an effort to grab a winner, and both teams had great chances to take all three points.

Joelinton looked certain to score but his side-footed shot was heroically blocked on the line by Saiss. Silva then, somehow, had a header kept out by Dubravka from point-blank range.

All in all, a draw was the right result to end a solid February for Wolves.

Teams

Newcastle (4-3-3): Dubravka; Krafth (Ritchie, 71), Lascelles, Clark, Lewis; Shelvey, Hayden, Willock; Almiron (Fraser, 46), Joelinton, Saint-Maximin (Murphy, 63)

Subs not used: Darlow (gk), Dummett, Longstaff, Hendrick, Gayle, Carroll

Goal: Lascelles (52)

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Saiss; Semedo (Hoever, 85), Neves, Moutinho, Otto (Ait-Nouri, 90); Neto, Jose (Silva, 83), Traore

Subs not used: Ruddy (gk), Kilman, Otasowie, Vitinha, Gibbs-White

Goal: Neves (73)

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)