‘NOT GOOD ENOUGH’ : WOLVES LOSE 3-0 TO NEWCASTLE

Wolves took the long journey north knowing they were up against a bang in form Newcastle and knowing a point would be a great return. Despite the heavy defeat to Forest there were some encouraging performances last week even with a makeshift defence and without the talisman Cunha.  Now with a stronger squad there were reasons to be feel some hope although the starting line up surprisingly did not feature the returning players Semedo and Cunha.

 

This fixture also represented the start of a tough run of fixtures replicating the tough start to the season. If Wolves are to stave off relegation, they cannot accept the bookies odds and deliver a nil return from the next 6 games. Hopefully the positivity the new manager has brought can translate to a winning attitude even against the big teams.

 

 

SA, R Gomes, Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou, Ait-Nouri, J Gomes, Andre, Guedes, Strand Larsen, Hwang

 

Wolves started on the front foot and dominated the opening exchanges with the forwards stating high up the pitch. After 5 minutes Newcastle break and Sa makes the first save of the match. This lifts the crowd and Newcastle and the balance of that match evens out. Shortly after Wolves create good chance with a deflected Hwang cross falling to Guedes who doesn’t get the right connection and it slides wide. With Wolves staying fairly high up the pitch Newcastle had limited opportunities to get their full backs involved but increasingly the pressure from Newcastle was building. Another good position for Wolves ended when Hwang misplaced a pass leading to a Newcastle break with Isak finding the net from outside the box with an unfortunate deflection from the boot of Ait-Nouri. Wolves had put in a lot of good defensive work and whilst the goal was coming it needed a big slice of luck.

 

Just before half time Wolves broke with good work from Guedes feeding the ball to Larsen but the striker grazed the wrong side of the post from a very good position. 

 

Overall Newcastle controlled the game but Wolves did hold a good shape and offered some threat. At least we looked organised and with a clear plan. Defenders defending, no silly playing out from the back and good pressure from the forwards when they could. The missed chance just before the half ended was  the opportunity to take us into the break level and these are the fine margins in the premier league that cost points.

 

 

Cunha replaces Hwang at half time and immediately shows his expertise on the ball and within minutes is firing in his first shot, the attacking improvement is clear. The first ten minutes produced little else from either team and as the half progressed at 1 nil down and with Cunha on the pitch it felt like we could get something from the game. Unfortunately, a calamitous mix up in the heart of the defence left Isak standing alone around the penalty spot with plenty of time to easily dispatch the second, The game was seemingly over but Wolves still carried a threat with another Cunha effort and a Cunha penalty appeal, that could have been given, being waived away. 

 

Semedo and Bellegarde replaced Guedes and R Gomes and shortly after another gaping hole appeared in the Wolves backline and again Gordon had plenty of time to make it 3. A very lengthy and boring VAR check for offside ensued and despite the naked eye suggesting offside it was given. Again, VAR is not helpful the onside on-field decision would have been perfectly acceptable.

 

Bueno had the ball in the net from a corner but this was wiped out for handball. No matter what the letter of the law says VAR should not and was not introduced to rule such goals out the offending and incidental arm being held in position by a Newcastle defender.

 

Another Wolves move saw Ait-Nouri crossing perfectly for Larsen to somehow fail to score from inside the 6 yard box.

Another 3 nil defeat that is flattering to the opposition but the reality of the result cannot be ignored. Wolves had enough chances to score with 7 shots on target compared to Newcastle’s 5.  The home team had two clear chances and took them whereas Wolves simply didn’t. Despite a lot of good defending two glaring defensive errors gifted the goals and there was not much anyone could do about the deflected goal.

 

The team did look compact and organised in all areas but lapses at the back and poor decision making in the final 3^rd is letting us down.

 

Agbadou made an encouraging start, physically strong and seemingly ok on the ball although he was often a yard or two behind the other two centre halves which should easily be resolved with more game time. Vitor may well be tempted to consider a back four with his presence.

 

Despite some poor misses and significant lapses, it was not all bad but simply not good enough against a good in form team. We have to produce some unexpected results in the next few games if we are to avoid relegation.