Newcastle United fought back from a halftime deficit with two long-range strikes in the space of five minutes to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at Molineux on Sunday and move into third place in the Premier League. Fabian Schar's speculative effort took a deflection to draw Newcastle level after Wolves captain Mario Lemina's 36th-minute goal had put the hosts ahead at the break as they chased a first league success of the season. But while there might have been an element of fortune about Schar's 75th-minute goal, there was no luck involved as Harvey Barnes thrashed home a spectacular winner five minutes later.
Both efforts came from outside the penalty area and dramatically turned around the outcome after struggling Wolves had dominated most of the encounter. Wolves remain in the bottom three with a single point from their opening four fixtures of the campaign. Newcastle advanced to 10 points, behind second placed Arsenal on goal difference and two behind Manchester City.
The visitors began the encounter strongly and saw Anthony Gordon speed down the left flank before hitting the upright with an effort from a tight angle in the 24th minute. But it proved the catalyst for Wolves to wrestle control of the game and go ahead after Jorgen Strand Larsen had broken on the counter-attack, hit a square ball across the Newcastle goalmouth that João Gomes generously dummied to allow Lemina a simple tap-in.
Strand Larsen was inches away from doubling the hosts' lead eight minutes into the second half but hit the bottom of the upright with his effort, while Newcastle's goalkeeper Nick Pope made two important saves before the match turned on its head. Schar hit his shot from well outside the box, but it caught the top of the head of Wolves defender Craig Dawson and flew past Sam Johnstone and into the top corner for the equaliser.
Swiss international Schar was back in the side after a three-match suspension, having been sent off on the opening day of the campaign against Southampton. Barnes, who struggled last season with a foot injury, then made room for himself by accelerating inside from the left before firing off a driving effort to score a sumptuous winner. “Winning is everything,” Howe said, before a line that seemed extremely pointed. “The best way to do that is to be unified – that means the players, the supporters and the coaching staff and I’ll do everything to keep that unity.”
Howe’s solution, conditioned by an eye injury Isak sustained just before half-time, was to make a triple change at the break, with Barnes replacing Isak and Gordon moving into the centre. Joelinton, booked for a frustrated challenge towards the end of the first half, and Longstaff were also withdrawn, with Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock coming on. The pattern, though, remained similar to the first half: Newcastle with the ball and Wolves with the threat. Larsen and Matheus Cunha both hit a post, and Nick Pope made a number of fine saves. Then, with quarter of an hour remaining, a speculative Fabian Schär shot glanced off Craig Dawson and looped over Sam Johnstone’s dive to equalise. But if that was fortunate, the winner, five minutes later, was exceptional.
Howe’s job now is to work out if there is a way to generate threat on the right and to protect a central defence that struggled with Larsen, issues at least in part caused by the failure to reinforce this summer. But for now, after the anticlimactic nature of last season, the comparative lack of action in the transfer market and the background rumblings, 10 points from four games represents an extremely positive start. Newcastle come from behind to beat Wolves in Premier League. Barnes curled in stunning winner as Magpies scored twice in last 15 minutes.
The visitors began the encounter strongly and saw Anthony Gordon speed down the left flank before hitting the upright with an effort from a tight angle in the 24th minute. But it proved the catalyst for Wolves to wrestle control of the game and go ahead after Jorgen Strand Larsen had broken on the counter-attack, hit a square ball across the Newcastle goalmouth that João Gomes generously dummied to allow Lemina a simple tap-in. Strand Larsen was inches away from doubling the hosts' lead eight minutes into the second half but hit the bottom of the upright with his effort, while Newcastle's goalkeeper Nick Pope made two important saves before the match turned on its head. Schar hit his shot from well outside the box, but it caught the top of the head of Wolves defender Craig Dawson and flew past Sam Johnstone and into the top corner for the equaliser. Barnes, who struggled last season with a foot injury, then made room for himself by accelerating inside from the left before firing off a driving effort to score a sumptuous winner.
Pope’s full length dive to deny Matheus Cunha in stoppage time kept unbeaten Newcastle's lead intact as they made it three wins from four matches.
“We need to change this losing mentality and get back to work and win games now,” said Lemina with Wolves away at Aston Villa in their next league game on Saturday. Context is everything and boss Gary O'Neil has been at pains to point out Wolves' circumstances. It is one win in 14 games, if last season's disappointing conclusion is taken into account, but it is not something O'Neil is entertaining. He did not bristle at the suggestion in his post match press conference after Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, he understands the talk around their form, but it was clear he feels it should not be taken into account. He called it “irrelevant” to compare the two and that is understandable given there has been a summer and a transfer window between them. Yet in order to silence any doubters or detractors Wolves need to win. Their performances have been good enough - they could have beaten Newcastle - and there remains belief they can arrest any issues in time. O'Neil pointed out the level of opposition - expecting Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle to finish in the top six - while they have taken a point from Nottingham Forest who may be more on their level. He highlighted the important context but results are what Wolves need now.
