Newcastle United secured a crucial victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their latest Premier League fixture, reigniting their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. The Magpies had only won one home game in 2022 prior to this match, but goals from Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron secured a 2-1 win over Wolves, who had Hwang Hee-Chan score a consolation goal.
Isak opened the scoring for Newcastle in the first half, with the Swedish striker converting a Kieran Trippier free-kick with a powerful header. Isak has struggled to make an impact since his £63 million move from Real Sociedad last summer, but his goal against Wolves was his first in nearly two months and could be a sign of things to come.
Despite Newcastle’s dominance, Wolves had their chances to equalise, with Daniel Podence hitting the post and Raul Jimenez being denied a penalty after a challenge from Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. Pope was fortunate to avoid a red card for the second consecutive home game, having been sent off against Liverpool earlier this month.
Wolves did eventually score through Hee-Chan, who tapped in from close range after Trippier failed to clear a Jimenez pass. However, Almiron came off the bench to score the winner for Newcastle, curling in a beautiful shot that took a crucial deflection off Max Kilman.
The win was a relief for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who had seen his side lose their previous three matches by a 2-0 scoreline. Howe made five changes to his starting lineup for the Wolves game, including giving Isak only his sixth Premier League start and leaving top scorer Callum Wilson on the bench.
Newcastle’s victory takes them up to fifth in the Premier League table, just three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal. The Magpies have now won three of their last four league games and will hope to continue their good form in their upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.
For Wolves, the defeat is a setback in their bid to climb up the table. The Midlands club are currently in 12th place, seven points behind Newcastle, and will need to improve their form if they are to challenge for a top-half finish this season.
Overall, Newcastle’s win over Wolves was an important result for both teams. The Magpies showed that they are still in the race for a Champions League spot, while Wolves will need to bounce back quickly if they are to achieve their own ambitions this season.
