Matt Doherty struck at the death to earn Wolves a dramatic victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The goal was a reward for patience as the visitors continually plugged away at their ten-man hosts and the Irishman headed home in injury time to secure victory.
The contest looked on course for stalemate after Ayoze Perez cancelled out Diogo Jota’s opener in an all-action Super Sunday. Jota’s goal was well-taken, as he latched onto the end of Helder Costa’s cross and finished past Martin Dubravka.
The Magpies quickly levelled through Ayoze Perez’s deft header before the break, before they were reduced to ten men when DeAndre Yedlin saw red for pulling back Jota. The dismissal swung the pendulum Wolves’ way, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took advantage with the last kick which Doherty struck.
The start went a long way to previewing what was to come, with both sides competing strongly and having chances to take an early lead. Newcastle’s opening came courtesy of an impressive chest and volley movement from Solomon Rondon, which Rui Patricio was equal to, before Ruben Neves curled a free-kick into the arms of Dubravka.
Jota had waited four months for a goal in the Premier League and within the space of five days had two. The forward was the welcome recipient of Costa’s brilliant cross, taking the ball on his chest and firing beyond Dubravka, despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts.
However, parity was just around the corner. Newcastle thought they’d equalised when Rondon’s free-kick cannoned off the underside of the crossbar, but instead the striker turned provider, crossing the scrambled ball back into the box, for Perez to glance home a deft header, over Patricio.
Determined not to concede twice in quick succession, Patricio then produced routine saves to keep out Rondon and Federico Fernandez. As for Wolves, a Ryan Bennett header which dropped off target was the best they had to show for the remainder of the half.
Half-time: Newcastle 1 Wolves 1
In terms of action, little had come from the first ten minutes of the second period, but one lapse in concentration by Yedlin and the game had turned. The defender gifted possession to Jota who was in, before Yedlin duly pulled on the Wolves man’s shirt. Out came Mike Dean’s red card and the hosts were down to ten men.
With two substitutes planned prior to the dismissal, Wolves changed. On came Morgan Gibbs-White and Raul Jimenez, with Adama Traore and Romain Saiss making way. Fresh from his fine performance against Chelsea, Gibb-White was quickly involved, crossing for Doherty to head over.
Patience was imperative to a Wolves side now enjoying more of the ball and they were grateful to see Perez blaze over on a rare flurry forward by the hosts. However, Wolves attacks were the more dangerous and on the counter attack Jota fed Jimenez, who steadied himself and rattled the underside of the crossbar.
With 15 minutes remaining, Joao Moutinho was introduced to the action in place of Costa, meaning Gibbs-White linked up with Jota and Jimenez in a central role, how the the trio started the Chelsea victory.
Dubravka was enjoying an impressive afternoon between the sticks for Newcastle and he was required from the next breakaway as Jota’s cross was dummied by Gibbs-White and Doherty’s sweetly-struck effort was goalbound until the goalkeeper intervened.
Then, from the resulting corner, Dubravka clutched onto a glancing Jimenez header, and with that appeared to go Wolves’ final chance, but they had one final trick up their sleeve.
The visitors had one final charge forward in them. Jota charged down the left, took his time before stinging the palms of Dubravka, only for the ball to fall perfectly to Doherty, who had the simple task of nodding home the winner and spark scenes of jubilation amongst the away end.
Full-time: Newcastle 1 Wolves 2
Newcastle: Dubravka, Clark, Ki, Lascelles, Rondon (Joselu 86’), Diame, Ritchie, Perez, Fernandez (Manquillo 46’), Yedlin, Atsu (Kenedy (89’)).
Unused subs: Woodman, Dummett, Muto, Longstaff.
Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Vinagre, Neves, Saiss (Gibbs-White 61’), Costa (Moutinho 76’), Jota, Traore (Jimenez 61’).
Unused subs: Ruddy, Dendoncker, Cavaleiro, Bonatini.
