Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Newcastle United | Premier League match report

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.22.2/95225?ns=guardian&pageName=Wolverhampton+Wanderers+1-2+Newcastle+United+%7C+Premier+League+match+repo%3AArticle%3A1641597&ch=Football&c3=Obs&c4=Premier+League+2011-12%2CWolverhampton+Wanderers+%28Football%29%2CNewcastle+United+%28Football%29%2CPremier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=Unclassified%2CPremier+League&c6=Richard+Rae&c7=11-Oct-01&c8=1641597&c9=Article&c10=Match+report&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FPremier+League+2011-12" width="1" height="1" /></div><p>Given Arsenal are the only one of what might be described as the usual top four teams they have played, it is much too early to gauge Newcastle's chances of breaking up the customary Premier League party. In the meantime however, Alan Pardew's Magpies continue to do everything that is asked of them, and in extending their unbeaten start to the season by beating a Wolves team struggling for confidence, moved into third in the table.</p><p>Buoyed by a solid second half performance in defeat at Anfield last week, Wolves began brightly enough. United goalkeeper Tim Krul had to dive smartly to his right to keep out Jamie O'Hara's curling free-kick after it was missed by defenders and attackers alike, and the young Dutchman was equally impressive soon afterwards, coming off his line to block Kevin Doyle's attempt with his body.</p><p>The first time Chiek Tioté and Yohan Kabaye combined in midfield, however, they carved the suspect Wolves defence apart, creating more space for Jonás Gutierrez on the left than the Argentine knew what to do with. Unable to make up his mind whether to shoot or cross Gutiérrez ended up producing neither, but a minute later the visitors did take the lead. As a former centre-half Wolves manager Mick McCarthy must have found it hard to believe how easily his defenders allowed Demba Ba to escape their attentions and steal in to head Cabaye's near-post corner past Wayne Hennessey from inside the six yard box.</p><p>Wolves responded with some purpose, and again Krul saved well from Doyle after the Irish forward's shot was deflected, but such was the home team's uncertainty at the back, Newcastle looked capable of scoring with every attack. Shortly after missing a close range sitter when left unmarked to attack Danny Simpson's cross, Gutiérrez made no mistake when he picked up the ball from Tioté — who was fouled by Karl Henry in the act of releasing the ball — and the Wolves defence simply parted before him, allowing him to run into the penalty area and drive the ball beyond Hennessey.</p><p>Had Wolves been awarded the penalty they should have been when Steven Taylor fouled O'Hara just inside the penalty area they would have taken some encouragement going into the break, but referee Mark Halsey decided the offence had taken place on the wrong side of the line as far as the home team was concerned.</p><p>It having been six matches since Newcastle conceded more than a solitary goal, Wolves' chances of getting anything from the game were always slim.</p><p>They improved after McCarthy made changes, and Krul made a double save to deny Steven Fletcher and Christophe Berra, but Ba should have extended Newcastle's lead still further before being replaced.</p><p>With a couple of minutes remaining Fletcher finally beat Krul, heading Hammill's cross in from close range, and Wolves thought they had snatched a point in added time when Doyle poked the ball in, only for the linesman to rule it had previously gone out of play.</p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premier-league-2011-12">Premier League 2011-12</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wolves">Wolverhampton Wanderers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/newcastleunited">Newcastle United</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/richardrae">Richard Rae</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
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