Newcastle 1 (Woltemade 29) Wolves 0
Wolves’ winless start to the new campaign continued after Nick Woltemade’s header earned Newcastle United a narrow win at St James’ Park.
Vitor Pereira’s side had started well on Tyneside and both Rodrigo Gomes and Hee Chan Hwang tested Nick Pope in the opening stages, before Sam Johnstone brilliantly denied Jacob Murphy.
However, Woltemade headed home Jacob Murphy’s cross for the only goal, while Sandro Tonali struck a post. The second 45 minutes were less eventful, which suited the hosts, who saw out their victory fairly comfortably.
The start to Saturday’s proceedings actually belonged to Wolves, without the breakthrough arriving. Within the first 15 seconds debutant Tolu Arokodare set up Rodrigo Gomes to sting the palms of Pope, who excelled from the following corner, keeping out Hwang’s effort at full stretch.
Arokodare’s only real first half sniff of goal was cut out by Dan Burn before he could get a clean shot away, while Rodrigo Gomes, after powering into the box, then dragged with of the near post as the positive start continued.
However, on 13 minutes the visitors should have taken the lead. Joelinton flicked on Tino Livramento’s long throw and Murphy was free at the back post, but Johnstone, in for the ill Jose Sa, spread himself big to save at point blank range.
There was nothing the goalkeeper could do about the opening goal, however. Murphy’s cross was good, but Woltemade lost Emmanuel Agbadou, and by that point Wolves were in trouble, with the striker heading past Johnstone from close range.
The Old Gold nearly responded then Hugo Bueno got to the byline and crossed for Rodrigo Gomes, but his header swerved away from the far post at the last minute.
During the dying embers of the half the hosts twice threatened. Murphy fizzed a shot wide from distance, before Tonali saw his effort come back off the inside of the post and roll across Johnstone’s goal line but, crucially for Wolves, out of danger.
Half-time | Newcastle 1-0 Wolves
While the first half was full of chances at both ends, the seconds wasn’t. It was 45 minutes of stop-start action, and little goalmouth chances, as Newcastle saw out the win.
As the starting eleven tired, Pereira rang the changes and Wolves did ask questions late on, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde unable to slide Marshall Munetsi through and then seeing his free-kick deflect wide.
Newcastle were always a threat when searching for the second and Joe Willock had a shot deflected into the hands of Johnstone, while in injury time Fer Lopez combined with Jhon Arias, whose effort was blocked by the resolute Newcastle defence, and that was enough to secure the points for the home side.
Full-time | Newcastle 1-0 Wolves
Newcastle | Pope, Trippier, Shar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton (Willock 65), Murphy (Botman 90+5), Barnes (Elanga 80), Woltemade (Osula 65).
Unused subs | Ramsdale, Hall, Thiaw, Krafth, Miley.
Wolves | Johnstone, R Gomes (Tchatchoua 77), Agbadou, Mosquera (Bellegarde 66), Toti, H Bueno, Krejci, Andre (Munetsi 66), J Gomes, Hwang (Lopez 77), Arokodare (Arias 66).
Unused subs | Bentley, Doherty, S Bueno, Wolfe.
