Newcastle United put three unanswered goals past Wolverhampton Wanderers to secure their first home league win since just before Christmas and boost their hopes of European football next season.
Goals from Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento, his first for the club, moved Newcastle into eighth as Wolves dropped to 10th.
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How the match unfolded
Martin Dubravka returned for Loris Karius in goal for Newcastle, while Livramento, Lewis Milley and Miguel Almiron dropped out, with Dan Burn, Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy coming in.
There was no Hwang Hee-chan or Joao Gomes for Wolves, with Jean-Ricner Ballegarde and Tommy Doyle replacing them.
From early on, Newcastle were happy to sit back and allow Wolves to press.
And the policy paid off as the home side struck first. Sven Botman sent Gordon down the left on the counter-attack and he crossed to Bruno Guimaraes, whose shot deflected up for Isak to head past Jose Sa.
Wolves attempted to respond, coming narrowly close as Craig Dawson won a flick-on from a corner but Toti headed over.
Newcastle almost extended their lead as Isak shot from outside the box, but Sa had a comfortable save.
With the rain coming down heavily at St James’ Park, Newcastle tested Sa again with a low shot outside the box but the Portuguese ’keeper produced another comfortable save.
Gordon doubled the lead on 32 minutes. Murphy received a ball from the back and crossed it in from the right. Sa and a defender failed to clear the danger, allowing Gordon to convert the loose ball for his 10th goal of the season.
Newcastle went into the break comfortably 2-0 up with Wolves failing to register an attempt on target, despite having more possession.
Wolves returned to the pitch, making two changes, with Dan Bentley replacing Sa and Nathan Fraser replacing Pedro Neto as they looked to find a way back.
On 53 minutes Kieran Trippier had to hobble off, with Livramento coming on.
Dubravka kept Newcastle’s lead intact as he made two wonderful saves from separate Wolves attacks.
Despite sitting back, Newcastle continued to test the Wolves ‘keeper, with Almiron forcing Bentley into action.
Livramento sealed the win in the third minute of stoppage time giving Wolves their third consecutive defeat at St James' Park. The defender advanced into the box and as he was tackled, bundled the ball past Bentley.
The win lifts Newcastle above Brighton & Hove Albion into eighth, with 40 points. Wolves drop to 10th with 38.
Club reports
Newcastle report | Wolves report
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
38 | +14 | 63 |
| 7 |
Newcastle
NEW
|
38 | +23 | 60 |
| 8 |
Man Utd
MUN
|
38 | -1 | 60 |
| 9 |
West Ham
WHU
|
38 | -14 | 52 |
| 10 |
Crystal Palace
CRY
|
38 | -1 | 49 |
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Key facts
Eddie Howe has recorded his 100th win in the Premier League, making him the eighth English manager to reach that milestone in the competition.
Wolves have won just one of their nine away meetings with Newcastle in the Premier League (2-1 in December 2018 under Nuno Espírito Santo), while they’ve lost each of their last three visits to St James’ Park.
Alexander Isak has scored 12 goals in his first 20 home Premier League games for Newcastle, only Alan Shearer (21), Andy Cole (21) and Les Ferdinand (16) have scored more in their first 20 at St James' Park for the Magpies.
Each of Anthony Gordon’s last seven Premier League strikes have come at home. In fact, only Mohamed Salah (13) and Leon Bailey (12) have been directly involved in more home goals than Gordon in the Premier League this season (11 – eight goals, three assists).
