Having taken ten from a possible twelve points so far, Wolves travel to Newcastle today in an effort to complete an unbeaten month and complete a huge turnaround in their fortunes.
After a dissappointing month of January in which Wolves failed to win a Premier League game, they now find themselves moving up the table and seeking a third back-to-back win, against the team struggling to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
Following disappointing displays and results, United Manager Steve Bruce is under pressure from fans to avoid being overtaken by Fulham and drop into the bottom three. On the other hand Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has seen a gradual return of injured players and confident performances to move towards the top ten places.
Newcastle has been a good place for Wolves to play since rejoining the Premier League having won and drawn there in the last two seasons.
Nuno has not given any news away of possible returns from injury for this game, but has said that he is very confident Raul Jiminez will play again before the end of the season. So we may be looking at an unchanged line-up for the third successive game with Neto, Traore and José leading the attack.
Our referee today will be the recently heavily criticized Mike Dean, assisted on VAR duties by Kevin Friend. Mike Dean was also in charge two seasons ago and sent André Yedlin off for denying Diogo Jota a scoring opportunity!!
The match will kick off at 8pm and will be screened by Sky TV
This board will provide regular updates on the progress of the game and members are encouraged to post their own observations for the benefit of those unable to otherwise watch it.
Defensively looking more sound, three wins and a draw from the last four, Jonny's back, Neves is in form, Neto is on fire. If we lose this I will eat my hat (goes to put on a hat).
Newcastle out of form, only just above the relegation places, without Wilson and any supporters. I've put a 1-0 Wolves win on the prediction league but surely at least a draw.
Our last three/four matches have given us much needed points but we had great spoonfuls of luck and good fortune. Every one of those previous matches could so easily have proved to be less than fruitful for us and we would then have been within a point or two of Newcastle’s current position.
Nonetheless I do think that we have the better team and probably the better team spirit at the moment so a win looks the likely result unless we are too timid in our approach and hand the initiative to our opponents something we have done on numerous occasions throughout this season.
An optimistic 3-1 win for our boys.
A week is a long time without Wolves in lockdown and whilst looking forward to this evening, it is with some trepidation as to whether we’ll find out feet again.
The run we’re on has been extremely good in terms of points haul and exactly what the Dr ordered! Performances have been much improved too, especially versus Leeds, particularly in the first half. There is no doubt we’ve had good fortune, a welcome change to be honest, though I’m of the opinion you often make your own luck. We have looked far more determined and cohesive too ...... however in all recent good results we give the opposition opportunities and I expect no different tonight.
The thing with Newcastle, they have had some bad results of late but they have played well and been unlucky in a few.
Wolves to continue their unbeaten run for me, though think a draw is the likeliest!!
We keep hearing how Newcastle have struggled with injuries, and yet every one of their players on the bench is a well known name. Their only change tonight is Dubravka for Darrow in goal. Their danger men in my view are Saint-Maximin and Almeron.
Pleased to see a settled and unchanged side. Got to help with continuity.
Saint-Maximin is the ace in their pack, their danger man - hopefully our man of similar style, Adama, will keep them well and truly mesmerised!! And of course, Neto to sneak in behind the line too.
With more composure here Toon might already be 2 or 3-0 here. As it is it’s 0-0. We need to snuff the St Maximin threat who seems to have us on toast ATM
Almiron down hurt& would be missed if he can’t continue. ASM. Is a real handful also as expected. Adama almost scores at the far post - with his head!!! Corner comes to nothing
Jose earns a free kick, put in by Joao. VAR look at possible hand ball but nothing given. Excellent defensive play by Jonny. Adama puts a ball high over their area but Neto’s connection is poor.
Some really promising and good play from Traore, setting up Neto twice this half I thus far Pedro hasn’t got his shooting boots on. Traore has now drawn 2 yellows for Toon player
Now Clarke gets a yellow card for fouling Adama. Useful free kick 30 yds out for Neves, Eventually ends up for Neto to hit but not enough power. Two added minutes to play.
Neves so close to converting a superb cross from Neto. Half time whistle goes.
Not a bad watch, but Newcastle have had the better chances & probably should be leading as Almiron hit the post & Rui has had to make some good saves. We have had chances but lacked accuracy. Adama playing very well and a real threat, but Jose struggling to get involved
Utd 0 Wolves 0
Ivybridge Wolf Some really promising and good play from Traore, setting up Neto twice this half I thus far Pedro hasn’t got his shooting boots on. Traore has now drawn 2 yellows for Toon player
History of red cards vs Newcastle so anything might happen. Exciting first half we grew into with Neto and Traore up front. Forgot Jose was there so he will likely score a second half goal (unless Fabio comes straight on? 60 minutes)
Some big early scares but we survived ..... well at least so far. St Maximin is a player with wonderful skill, though his team have been profligate up front. Last 15-20 we grew as an attacking force and our best player by a long way, Traore, has caused big problems. Neto put a wonderful cross over into the corridor of uncertainty late on and all it needed was a touch ..... but not to be. Should Willian have been closer to it?
Not a bad match to watch. Will be made so much more pleasurable if we scored .... as always 👍 🐺
Fast start to 2nd half by both sides. Adama sets up Neves but his sho5ishigh & wide. Ryan Fraser has replaced Almiron for Utd. They get a corner, Fraser puts it into our area & Lascelles converts
Utd 1 Wolves 0
Lascelles makes it 1-0 after some very good wing play from St Maximin and then Fraser. He heads it in and Donk got nowhere near him. Very disappointing
Need to dig deep now. Saiss angry at a foul given against him. Free kick near the line crossed for Shelvey to shoot over. Adama tries to do too much at times and we lose possession in promising positions.
Neto tries a shot from outside the area but high & wide. ASM & Willock both need attention. ASM looks in pain - thinking unkindly, we could with seeing the back of him, as it was great work by him that fed Fraser before their goal. ASM goes off
It’s all become a bit bitty for us, play breaking down, taking wrong options etc. Semedo was in on the right just now ...... I was just thinking if a different outcome might have been possible with the Doc in the exact same position. Ifs buts and maybes.
Moutinho on the ground injured. He’s up but hobbling
Yet another soft free kick against us. Murphy’s free kick cleared. Adama’s pass is too far ahead of Neto. Expecting 5 added minutes because of all the injuries
All over and once again it finishes all level at 1 - 1. Not a bad match and very equally contested. United unlucky to lose their best two players to injury, & the score was probably fair on balance.
Newcastle 1 Wolves 1
Enjoyed that but every game feels like a lottery. Gradually we are improving but the cohesion still isn't quite there . And Willian versus Silva? Not sure but neither will have much confidence.
Great to see Ruben get a header, and , unbelievably , inside the box.
Excellent and exciting pressure at the end. How did Silva not score? The ball seemed to limp onto the bar in slow motion, agonising. Silva was a touch unlucky, the keeper didn’t know much about it but great reactions and positioning.
Maybe a point is fair in the most boringly predictable score line of a match between Newcastle and Wolves.
Enjoyable match however with plenty of taking points and goal mouth action, even if a good proportion was at the wrong end! We’ll need to tighten up v Manchester City, next up.
Positives for me tonight - definitely Traore, especially in the first half and last 10 minutes . Lovely, well worked header from Neves. Generally more positive play, like the Leeds match. Jonny played well, Semedo okay (going forward ...... hope his injury is okay), the unbelievable Saiss goal line clearance.
Negatives - i do think we still look to go backwards a bit too often when we have a chance to push defences. The other negative is the general amount of first half chances Newcastle generated.
Still ........ the unbeaten run continues!!
UTW
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:02:27:22:14:59 by Ivybridge Wolf.
Probably a fair result and quite an entertaining match.
Thought Dendoncker could have done better for their goal, not much of a challenge.
Semedo seems to be getting better, including defensively.
Great header for Neves's goal, didn't know he could do that, and a fantastic clearance at the other end by Saiss. I was celebrating Fabio's header, didn't realize the 'keeper had got it onto the bar. Looking at the replay, I don't think the 'keeper realized it either.
One thing I wish we could stop is giving free-kicks away when there is no danger. Too many times a player is facing the touchline with defenders behind him or facing his own goal and someone fouls him allowing them can clear it or play it into our box.
Still, the unbeaten run grows a bit more but three tricky matches coming up.
We rode our luck again and let’s hope that this fortuitous streak continues into our next match because I think that we may need it.
Good team spirit and so unlucky that Fabio didn’t get himself on the scoresheet, he did really well to out hustle the Newcastle defenders. Hoping that Semedo gets over his injury, he is starting to look more settled and is bringing another attacking dimension to the team.
Traore seems to be enjoying his new position although I would like to see him switch positions occasionally with Neto just to bring a little more variety to the attacking phases.
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