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Wolves stun Newcastle with Doherty's late headed winner

Diogo Jota gave Wolves the lead and had a hand in the second
Diogo Jota gave Wolves the lead and had a hand in the second

Wolves moved into the top half of the Premier League table after a 2-1 win over 10-man Newcastle United, with Matt Doherty’s header in the fourth minute of added time sealing the deal.

The visitors, who had picked up just one point from their last three away games and had won one of their previous seven league games, gained a third road win in the most dramatic fashion and handed Newcastle a seventh home defeat in nine outings.

They were helped somewhat by referee Mike Dean’s 58th-minute dismissal of DeAndre Yedlin after the Newcastle man denied Diogo Jota a clear goal-scoring opportunity, pulling him back after he was caught in possession.

Newcastle looked comfortable to that point, with Ayoze Perez’s deft header levelling the contest six minutes after Jota’s 17th-minute opener for Wolves.

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AS IT HAPPENED: Newcastle v Wolves

Yet their gutsy performance was undone in the dying moments with Doherty gambling and heading home, after Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka had saved superbly from Jota’s vicious shot.

In truth, Wolves had enough chances after the dismissal to have put the game beyond Rafa Benitez’s side, only to be denied by a combination of a couple of decent Dubravka stops and the woodwork.

Raul Jiminez’s thundering 76th-minute strike deserved a goal, but after he had cut inside from the right and unleashed a scorching shot, the ball smashed back off the bar.

Mike Dean shows Yedlin the red card
Mike Dean shows Yedlin the red card

Following another quick counter-attack and a neat dummy from exciting substitute Morgan Gibbs-White, Dubravka superbly pushed Doherty’s first-time strike away from goal, but all the Magpies’ determined defending came to nought as they pushed up in an attempt to find a winner, only to be caught out right at the death.

Newcastle looked in control for much of the first half and made a bright start with Mohamed Diame producing some quick feet down the right. After shifting the ball from one foot to the other, he crossed for Salomon Rondon, who chested the ball down, only to be denied by the quick reactions of Rui Patricio.

Wolves were content to use their pace on the break and Adama Traore went close at the other end, but overran the ball and, shortly after, Federico Fernandez brought down the nippy Traore. Neves took aim from the resulting 20-yard free kick, but it provided an easy take for Dubravka.

The visitors took the lead after 17 minutes, with Helder Costa’s magnificent ball into the box causing insurmountable problems. Yedlin, who did not have the best of afternoons, lost his marker and after peeling away, Jota, who turned 22 this week, chested down and finished well, firing home despite Dubravka’s best efforts.

Ayoze Perez attempts an acrobatic strike at goal
Ayoze Perez attempts an acrobatic strike at goal

Newcastle were on the back foot again soon after when losing possession in midfield and Wolves broke swiftly, with Jota flashing a dangerous ball across goal. However, Helder Costa could not quite catch up to the ball and get the touch it needed.

Yet it took just six minutes for Newcastle to level.

Rondon, who was a threat throughout until he was withdrawn four minutes from time, smashed a free-kick off the crossbar and while the ball bounced down on the goal-line it did not cross it. Fortunately, the ball broke back to the imposing centre forward and he whipped in a superb cross for Perez, who beat his marker to glance a header past Patricio.

The goal gave the hosts a lift and they began to gain control in the midfield. Espirtito Santo was constantly seen shaking his head as the trio of Wolves defenders appeared to often drop too deep, allowing Rondon all sorts of space in front of them.

Newcastle could have gone in front before the half-hour when the Venezuelan gathered Christian Atsu’s pass 25 yards out and, after turning smartly, forced Patrício into a low stop with a right-footed strike.

Matt Doherty (right) celebrates his winner at the death
Matt Doherty (right) celebrates his winner at the death

Wolves were pinned back and their attacks became sporadic as the first half wore on, but when they did relieve the pressure, they broke with pace. Newcastle’s back-tracking Matt Ritchie was forced into producing an important sliding challenge to dispossess Doherty with the Wolves wing-back bearing down on goal just after the half-hour mark.

Yet while Newcastle went in at the break much the happier, Yedlin’s dismissal changed the complexion of the game and the introduction of Gibbs-White helped turned the tide. His first involvement was to deliver a corner from the left, which Doherty rose to meet, but he failed to keep his header down and the ball cleared the crossbar.

At the other end, Ki Sung-Yeung’s free kick evaded everyone but Jamaal Lascelles. However, United’s skipper was unable to test Patrício and as Newcastle continued to cause problems, Perez wasted a fair chance when blasting over with 25 minutes remaining.

As Wolves struggled to make their man advantage count, the game became scrappier, with the visitors lacking bite and Newcastle defending doggedly.

In fairness, neither side deserved to lose, although their respective limitations were exposed: Newcastle lacked a cutting edge, while Wolves look as though they can be out-muscled at times.

Yet just as Newcastle were thinking that this was a point gained after the dismissal of Yedlin, Wolves took the opportunity to return to the top half of the table with Doherty’s late winner. Football can be a cruel game sometimes.