Allan Saint-Maximin volleyed in a brilliant 90th-minute equaliser as Newcastle extended their unbeaten start to four matches and kept winless Wolves in the bottom three.
Wolves thought they were going to claim their first win of the season thanks to skipper Ruben Neves’ excellent first-half strike.
But Saint-Maximin had other ideas.
When Hwang Hee-chan sent his mis-timed clearance into the air, the Frenchman waited on the edge of the area before delivering the sweetest finish that gave Wolves keeper Jose Sa no chance.
In a pulsating finish, the visitors twice came close to snatching victory. First Saint-Maximin brought a fine save from Sa with a powerful shot, then substitute Elliot Anderson hit the bar with a far post header after Raul Jimenez had flicked a cross into the youngster’s path.
The result was a massive blow for Wolves, who thought they had made it 2-0 nine minutes from time, only for Jimenez’s close-range finish to be ruled out after a VAR intervention for a foul in the build-up.
Sensational Saint-Maximin
This was not a point won by Newcastle in the same thrilling manner as last week against Manchester City. But it said so much about the character Eddie Howe has instilled in his squad.
Even without new signing Alexander Isak, whose work permit is still to be processed, plus Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes – both influential figures in last week’s six-goal thriller against the league champions – Newcastle still found a way to get something out of a game they struggled to influence for the first hour.
Joe Willock was too slow to close down Neves for the Wolves opener and the visitors were passive in midfield.
Yet they never let their heads drop and didn’t allow themselves to be overwhelmed in the way Newcastle teams of the past might have been.
And, in Saint-Maximin, they have a player capable of moments of genius.
Wolves boss Bruno Lage will lament Hwang’s poor clearance, but the home defence had thrown their bodies in front of some many half-chances, there seemed little likelihood of the Korean being punished when the ball fell to the French forward.
Sa barely moved before the ball whistled past him into the corner – Saint-Maximin’s first goal of the season being well worth the wait.
The result means Newcastle are unbeaten in their first four games for the first time since 2012.
Neves leads by example
This was another example of Wolves failing to make the most of their overall performance.
At least today they managed to score, after a wait of 302 minutes since their only other league goal of the season, by Daniel Podence on the opening day at Leeds.
And they were led superbly by Neves.
The Portugal midfielder was the automatic choice to replace Conor Coady as captain given he skippered Porto in the Champions League when he was just 18 and is one of the few remaining members of Nuno Espirito Santo’s Championship-winning squad.
Neves is not as vocal as Coady – hardly anyone is in fairness – but still has a massive influence on the squad.
The 60-yard cross-field pass from inside his own half that allowed Goncalo Guedes the chance to create a decent early opportunity for the lively Pedro Neto was sensational, given it was delivered as Neves was moving pretty quickly himself.
And if Newcastle weren’t ready for Neves’ 38th-minute goal, they should have been.
Exactly half of Neves’ 16 Premier League goals have come from outside the penalty area, including four of his last five.
The sight of him scrapping for possession inside the Newcastle half, when the game remained in the balance, epitomised the midfielder’s industrious approach.
Sadly for him, and his team, Saint-Maximin’s brilliance ensured it did not bring the victory that, for so long, looked likely.
Player of the match
Rúben NevesRúben Neves
Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Squad number8Player nameRúben NevesAverage rating
7.56
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Squad number7Player namePedro NetoAverage rating
6.82
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Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
Average rating6.61
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Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
Average rating6.60
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Squad number4Player nameCollins
Average rating6.58
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Squad number17Player nameGonçalo Guedes
Average rating6.53
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Squad number23Player nameKilman
Average rating6.48
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Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá
Average rating6.47
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Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes
Average rating6.47
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Squad number9Player nameJiménez
Average rating6.44
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Squad number19Player nameJonny
Average rating6.41
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Squad number10Player nameDaniel Podence
Average rating5.82
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Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
Average rating5.00
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Squad number11Player nameHwang Hee-Chan
Average rating4.48
Newcastle United
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Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
Average rating6.90
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Squad number32Player nameAnderson
Average rating6.72
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Squad number22Player namePope
Average rating6.53
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Squad number2Player nameTrippier
Average rating6.47
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Average rating6.03
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Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
Average rating5.95
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Squad number4Player nameBotman
Average rating5.91
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Squad number13Player nameTargett
Average rating5.90
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Squad number21Player nameFraser
Average rating5.86
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
Average rating5.85
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Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Average rating5.76
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Squad number33Player nameBurn
Average rating5.72
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Squad number11Player nameRitchie
Average rating5.63
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Squad number28Player nameWillock
Average rating5.51
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Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Average rating5.22
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Squad number20Player nameWood
Average rating5.17
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Malheiro de Sá
- 22Nélson SemedoBooked at 28mins
- 4Collins
- 23Kilman
- 19Castro Otto
- 27Nunes
- 8Neves
- 28João MoutinhoSubstituted forDendonckerat 90+9′minutes
- 17Gonçalo GuedesSubstituted forPodenceat 83′minutes
- 9Jiménez
- 7NetoBooked at 58minsSubstituted forHwang Hee-Chanat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Aït-Nouri
- 10Podence
- 11Hwang Hee-Chan
- 13Sarkic
- 14Mosquera
- 24Gomes
- 32Dendoncker
- 37Traoré
- 77Campbell
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2Trippier
- 5SchärBooked at 46mins
- 4Botman
- 33BurnSubstituted forTargettat 65′minutes
- 28WillockSubstituted forAndersonat 84′minutes
- 36S Longstaff
- 7Joelinton
- 24AlmirónSubstituted forMurphyat 84′minutes
- 20WoodSubstituted forFraserat 65′minutes
- 10Saint-MaximinSubstituted forRitchieat 90+9′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Dummett
- 6Lascelles
- 11Ritchie
- 13Targett
- 19Manquillo
- 21Fraser
- 23Murphy
- 26Darlow
- 32Anderson
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Newcastle United 1.
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Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Newcastle United 1.
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Attempt missed. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Ritchie replaces Allan Saint-Maximin because of an injury.
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Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leander Dendoncker replaces João Moutinho.
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Elliot Anderson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Nathan Collins (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Elliot Anderson (Newcastle United) hits the bar with a header from the left side of the six yard box following a corner.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Jonny.
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Joelinton (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Attempt saved. Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fabian Schär.
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Attempt blocked. João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Sean Longstaff.
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Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Elliot Anderson (Newcastle United).
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João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Newcastle United 1. Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
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Elliot Anderson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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