Jacob Murphy’s late free-kick rescued a point for Newcastle just minutes after Wolves had taken the lead at Molineux.
The Newcastle midfielder bent his low effort around the wall and just inside the post past goalkeeper Rui Patricio following Raul Jimenez’s opener.
The Mexican had fired home with 10 minutes to go of what had been a lacklustre encounter that Wolves had dominated for long stretches.
Both sides managed just one shot on target in the first half, and while the hosts seemed the likelier to take three points they had to settle for a point that takes them into seventh
Newcastle remain in 14th after the fourth consecutive 1-1 result between the two clubs.
Karl Darlow saved Daniel Podence’s shot in the sixth minute in what turned out to be Wolves’ best chance of the first half, while Allan Saint-Maximin’s effort pushed away by Patricio just before the break was Newcastle’s first attempt on target.
Blocks by Jamaal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez to deny Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto typified a dogged display by the away side in the second half, and they battled back strongly after Jimenez’s fine goal had seemed set to send them home empty-handed.
Wolves fail to land killer blow
Wolves lived up to the statistic that says they are the Premier League’s slowest starters, failing to score in the first half for the 58th time – more than any other side in the top flight.
Podence forced Darlow into a save low to his left after six minutes, but after that the home side failed to make the most of having nearly two-thirds of the possession.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side showed was more urgency after the break, and even had vague hopes of a penalty shout for handball when Fernandez got in the way of Podence’s effort, but replays showed the Newcastle defender could have done nothing to get the back of his arm out of the way.
Jimenez’s excellent shot from just outside the area from a corner had enough power behind it to take it in off Darlow’s left hand, giving Wolves’ leading scorer his fourth of this campaign and what seemed to be the game’s decisive moment.
But with their next three games all against sides near them in the table – versus Crystal Palace, Leicester and Southampton – Nuno will be keen for his team to finish off sides when they have the chance.
Gutsy Newcastle battle through
A heavy defeat to Manchester United last time out, combined with illness and injuries affecting his squad, saw Steve Bruce make four changes to his starting line-up.
Jonjo Shelvey’s groin problem and an illness affecting Sean Longstaff resulted in a redrawn side with an attacking edge, and included Ryan Fraser making his first Premier League start since his transfer from Bournemouth.
But for all their potential threat going forward, Newcastle worked hard without the ball for much of the match and Wolves’ main threats came from shots a long way from goal.
Fraser and his former Bournemouth team-mate Callum Wilson lined up alongside each other for the first time this season, while Murphy, who spent last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, made his first Premier League start since December 2018.
The 25-year-old Murphy, named at wing-back, took his chance with a clever free-kick that just squeezed in to give Newcastle a point from a match that they were never quite out of despite spending so much of it on the back foot.
The draw specialists – the stats you may have missed
- 73% of the Premier League matches between Wolves and Newcastle have ended level (8/11); of Premier League ties to have been played at least 10 times, this is the highest percentage.
- All 11 Premier League games between Wolves and Newcastle have seen both sides score a goal, making it the most played tie in the competition in which neither side have kept a clean sheet.
- Wolves have won just one of their 11 games under Nuno Espirito Santo in which they have had at least 60% possession (D5 L5), with that win coming against a Manchester City team who played with 10 men for more than 75 minutes.
- Raul Jimenez has been directly involved in 27 Premier League goals since the start of last season (21 goals & 6 assists – more than twice as many as any other Wolves player.
- Each of Jimenez’s last two Premier League goals have been scored from outside the box after each of his previous 32 goals in the competition had been scored from inside the penalty area.
- Jacob Murphy scored Newcastle’s first direct free-kick goal in the Premier League since a Jonjo Shelvey strike against West Ham in November 2019.
What’s next?
Wolves are at home again in their next outing when they host Crystal Palace at 20:00 GMT on Friday, 30 October, while Newcastle are back at St James’ Park when they play leaders Everton at 14:00 on Sunday, 1 November.
Player of the match
MurphyJacob Murphy
Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Squad number9Player nameJiménez
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Squad number10Player nameDaniel Podence
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Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
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Squad number16Player nameCoady
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Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
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Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
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Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
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Squad number49Player nameKilman
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Squad number15Player nameBoly
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Squad number11Player nameRui Patrício
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Squad number27Player nameSaïss
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Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
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Squad number5Player nameMarçal
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Squad number37Player nameTraoré
Newcastle United
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Squad number23Player nameMurphy
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Squad number26Player nameDarlow
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Squad number15Player nameLewis
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Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
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Squad number13Player nameC Wilson
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Squad number18Player nameFernández
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Squad number6Player nameLascelles
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
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Squad number16Player nameHendrick
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Squad number21Player nameFraser
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Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
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Squad number7Player nameCarroll
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Squad number9Player nameJoelinton
Line-ups
Wolves
- 11Rui Patrício
- 15Boly
- 16Coady
- 49Kilman
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 32Dendoncker
- 8NevesSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 83′minutes
- 27SaïssSubstituted forMarçal de Oliveiraat 68′minutes
- 7Neto
- 9Jiménez
- 10Castelo PodenceSubstituted forTraoréat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Hoever
- 3Aït-Nouri
- 5Marçal de Oliveira
- 17Soares Silva
- 21Ruddy
- 28João Moutinho
- 37Traoré
Newcastle
- 26Darlow
- 23Murphy
- 5Schär
- 6LascellesSubstituted forCarrollat 88′minutes
- 18Fernández
- 15Lewis
- 21FraserSubstituted forJoelintonat 78′minutes
- 16Hendrick
- 24AlmirónBooked at 40mins
- 13C Wilson
- 10Saint-MaximinSubstituted forS Longstaffat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Carroll
- 9Joelinton
- 14Hayden
- 17Krafth
- 19Manquillo
- 29Gillespie
- 36S Longstaff
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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Foul by Marçal (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
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Foul by Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Callum Wilson (Newcastle United).
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Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Newcastle United 1. Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Andy Carroll replaces Jamaal Lascelles.
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Foul by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Callum Wilson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United).
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Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. João Moutinho replaces Rúben Neves.
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Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Newcastle United 0. Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner following a set piece situation.
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Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Fabian Schär (Newcastle United).
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Sean Longstaff replaces Allan Saint-Maximin.