by Newcastle United’s wasteful first half nearly bit back their top four hopes, but Miguel Almiron came off the bench to clinch a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
Alexander Isak put the Magpies ahead before half time, but the hosts should have had more goals long before Hee-chan Hwang feasted on Newcastle’s mistakes late in the second half.
Fortunately for Eddie Howe’s men, Almiron pulled off a nice 1-2 with Joe Willock to put the hosts back in front on a day that was anything but stable for both sides.
SEE NEWCASTLE vs WOLVES FULL MATCH REPLAY STREAM – LINK
Newcastle move past Liverpool to fifth in the Premier League table, four points behind fourth-place Tottenham and six behind Manchester United with games remaining in both.
The wolves remain in 13th place with 27 points, three above the last three.
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Miguel Almiron leaves the bench to clean neglected Magpies
It’s really not up for debate if the Magpies weren’t the better team, but Wolves did enough to earn a point against the wasteful Newcastle.
I mean, this wouldn’t have been a smash and grab if Miguel Almiron hadn’t arrived on the scene. Nick Pope was not penalized by VAR for meeting Raúl Jiménez in the box shortly before the Magpies took their first lead, and Wolves will have felt the turn was fair game when Hwang leveled them.
The game seemed destined for the 1-1 state and of course it was; Six of the eight previous Premier League meetings between the teams have ended 1-1, with wins going both ways.
Enter Newcastle’s top scorer. Miguel Almiron may not be a double-digit scorer every year, but he’s the reason the Magpies are still in the top four of the discussion.
The Paraguayan full-back came off the bench and not only scored the winning goal, he enlivened the entire game. Another day, his slippery eel move from a late short corner has this 3-1, but centre-back Sven Botman did the centre-backs no favors by shooting over the bar in stoppage time.
If the Magpies make it to the top four or settle in the Europa League or Europa Conference League, there will be a series of “Miggy Moments” that got them there: the only goal in an October 1-0 win over Everton, the game – winning tally in a 20-1 win over Tottenham four days later, the only assist in a November 12 win over Chelsea, and now the game-winner.
Newcastle vs Wolves player ratings, stars of the show
Alexander Isaac: It certainly earned another start. He got his target and could have had one or two more.
Jose To: The reason Isak didn’t have one or two more.
Joe Willock: He slid past Almiron for the winner with a perfect pass; Credited with three shots, two chances created and four recoveries.
João Moutinho: In the midst of everything the wolves wanted to do, turn the clock back at least one day.
Miguel Almiron: He came off the bench and changed the game; Howe will have a hard time not testing a front three of Almiron, Isak and Saint-Maximin at Forest on Friday.
Whats Next?
Newcastle head to Nottingham Forest for a game on Friday at 4pm ET, while Wolves’ next game is a relegation triple against Leeds at the Molineux on Saturday.
Video of Alexander Isak’s goal: the sweet header from the Swede makes it 1-0
Hee-chan Hwang’s Goal Video: Hard Work Meets Magpies’ Silly Mistakes
Video of Miguel Almiron’s goal: 1-2 with Willock makes it 2-1, Newcastle
Newcastle vs Wolves, live updates as it happened:
minute 9: This has been all Newcastle but the Magpies have squandered a few opportunities including a ridiculous short corner routine in which Allan Saint-Maximin was designed to play back to Kieran Trippier but no one canceled despite the presence of a back inside 5 yards from Trippier.
Now the Magpies have a free kick from inside the arc. Bruno Guimaraes was smart to win it and will cede to Trippier. Nothing comes out, but Newcastle maintains possession until the quarter hour.
minute 17: Wolves launched a break down the right through a brilliant deep ball from Ruben Neves, and that created a bit of chaos for both halves. Ultimately, Newcastle back Nick Pope does well to keep a rogue Wolves shot in play so the Magpies can restart with the ball.
minute 23: Wolves feel they should be awarded a penalty when Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope takes a bad touch in the box and ends up in a mini confrontation with Raúl Jiménez. VAR controls. The VAR doesn’t see anything worth changing from the on-field call. There is definitive contact, but was it judged that Raúl Jiménez moved towards Pope and not towards the ball?
Either way, it hasn’t been an exceptional month on the ball for Pope, whose terrible decision against Liverpool led to a crushing defeat and his absence in the League Cup final.
minute 26: GOOOOOOOL! The ball exchange continues, to be polite, but Newcastle strike first with a delightful Kieran Trippier free-kick serve as alejandro isak hits a header inside the far post. It’s no more than they deserve overall, but Wolves will keep pointing fingers at Pope and a possible ban.
minute 37: It’s been all Newcastle since the goal as Isak is running the show and Newcastle are having a blast on the left side. Joe Willock could have made it 2-0 and Allan Saint-Maximin hits a rambling dribble in the box that leads to a super-cooked Trippier corner. Still 1-0, Magpies.
minute 39: Penalty to Newcastle? Handball on Mario Lemina but it’s risky at best and VAR doesn’t intervene. Then, out of nowhere, Daniel Podence has a look at the Premier League’s sixth goal of the season, but his inside court in the middle of him can only find the near post.
minute 44: Yellow card for Podence when he tackles Jacob Murphy outside the 18-yard line. That’s going to be another dangerous free kick for Trippier.
HALFTIME: Newcastle are a goal up and have taken 13 of the game’s 15 shots, but Wolves will be left wondering what could have been had Pope been sent off. Adding insult to injury, Ruben Neves has spent much of halftime receiving attention after a chest-to-shoulder collision with Sean Longstaff. A lot of work for Julen Lopetegui.
minute 53: There are few elite shot-stoppers like Nick Pope, but the Englishman is proving to be a problem for his team with possession, having a clearance blocked after another sloppy touch.
minute 58: Neto thwarts a free kick deflected by Newcastle who wanted a free kick due to the demolition of Isak but two minutes later one arrives due to a foul by Nelson Semedo on Jacob Murphy. It doesn’t amount to anything.
minute 64: The wolves are really excited now, and Neto’s presentation has been important. Newcastle will regret the lack of a second goal.
minute 68: Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron enter for striker Isak and winger Allan Saint-Maximin, while Wolves take on Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence. This one is about to look quite different down the stretch.
minute 70: GOOOOOAAAAALLLL! It’s Hee-chan Hwang cashing in on a Newcastle comedy of errors. Kieran Trippier slips desperately trying to clear and perhaps Pope is a little slow to react to a loose ball in the box, but either way it’s 1-1 and the South Korean striker is happy to pick up the spoils of dogged work.
How to watch Newcastle vs Wolves live, streaming link and start time
Start: 12:30 p.m. ET, Sunday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Broadcast via NBCSports.com
Key stories and star players
The Magpies have gone 315 goalless minutes in all competitions. Newcastle fans may know the club is ahead and forgive zeroes against Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City, but Eddie Howe should be under pressure to make his attackers perform (especially against non-powerful foes).
Wolves have scored just twice in four games, with Pablo Sarabia scoring in a draw with Fulham and Adama Traore beating Spurs 1-0. The wolves have been led this season by midfielder Rubén Neves, goalkeeper José Sa and center back Max Kilman, the only three players to start more than 20 PL games for the team.
Newcastle team news, injuries, line-up options
OUT: Joelinton (suspension – yellow cards), Ryan Fraser (other), Emil Krafth (knee).
Wolves team news, injuries, lineup options
OUT: Diego Costa (knee), Hugo Bueno (thigh), Chiquinho (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Boubacar Traore (hip).
Sloppy Newcastle take win over Wolves as super sub Almiron cleans originally appeared on NBCSports.com
