- Newcastle secured their first league win in 2024 by beating Wolves 3-0
- Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento all scored
- Win pushes the Magpies as much as eighth on the Premier League desk
A gray day when the darkish arts resurfaced and, for Newcastle United, lastly some sunshine on the horizon.
Eddie Howe stated on Friday he wished to recognise his staff once more, and this was way more just like the belligerent bunch who made such arduous opponents final season. They had been subtly cynical and ruthlessly scientific, taking part in as very like an away aspect in a primary half that introduced a two-goal lead.
For Newcastle had develop into delicate – simple to play towards, simple to attain towards and too simple to take factors from, particularly right here at St James’ Park.
In-form Wolves, then, would have fancied themselves, and so they did.
Gary O’Neil’s aspect performed with a swagger early on, solely to run into bother and the traps set by Howe.
![Alexander Isak opened the scoring in Newcastle's 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/17/81957801-13149045-image-a-6_1709400992630.jpg)
Alexander Isak opened the scoring in Newcastle’s 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday
![The Sweden international tapped home from two yards out to give the hosts the lead](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/17/81957805-13149045-image-a-1_1709400992449.jpg)
The Sweden worldwide tapped house from two yards out to present the hosts the lead
![Anthony Gordon scored Newcastle's second in a torrential downpour at St James' Park](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/17/81957817-13149045-image-a-3_1709400992487.jpg)
Anthony Gordon scored Newcastle’s second in a torrential downpour at St James’ Park
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The hosts sat deep, closed the gaps exploited by so many in current weeks and sought to make use of their tempo on the counter. All of it sounds so easy, aside from Newcastle nothing has come simple of late. This was a game-plan completely executed.
Howe stated: ‘It was a deliberate tweak to play a extra transitional sport and we had been cute in sure conditions.’
It helps when you’ve got Joe Willock again in midfield, and Bruno Guimaraes re-energised and impressed by his presence. The latter was key in creating Alexander Isak’s opener and the previous central to Anthony Gordon’s second.
They nonetheless wanted a group of good saves from Martin Dubravka within the second half, however by no means did their victory really feel unsure.
Right here, they had been in management, aided by the streetwise ways that irritated so many final 12 months – tying bootlaces and taking an age from deadballs. In brief, they had been onerous to play towards, onerous to attain towards and onerous to take factors from.
Come the tip, they didn’t even must eat up the clock. As an alternative, Tino Livramento ate up floor down the appropriate, charged into the world and poked house a solo purpose to cap a superb afternoon. It was chilly, moist and windy, however this was a efficiency to heat the soul of followers who had develop into apprehensive concerning the route of their staff.
![The win was Newcastle's first league victory since the turn of the year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/17/81958259-13149045-image-a-5_1709400992537.jpg)
The win was Newcastle’s first league victory for the reason that flip of the 12 months
![Tino Livramento (second left) scored Newcastle's third goal in the second half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/17/81959061-13149045-image-a-2_1709400992477.jpg)
Tino Livramento (second left) scored Newcastle’s third purpose within the second half
Not that it felt that approach within the opening levels. The primary purpose was towards the run of play, at the very least in that Wolves had been seeing extra of the ball. On reflection, it was Newcastle’s tactic all alongside.
The excellent Fabian Schar broke the press with a go to Gordon. He carried upfield and located Guimaraes, whose shot was deflected onto the forehead of Isak, who turned in from two yards.
The second arrived on 33 minutes, Schar’s go once more taking out Wolves’ frontline and Willock feeding Jacob Murphy on the appropriate. He centred low and, when Jose Sa dived to intercept however received in a tangle with defender Max Kilman, Gordon pounced for his tenth of the season.
‘There is no approach Newcastle allow us to have a number of the ball,’ stated O’Neil. ‘The explanation we had the ball was our high quality and the way good we had been with it.’
What did Howe consider that, did you let have them have the ball?
‘Sure, we modified issues tactically,’ he stated. Howe 1 O’Neil 0. Or somewhat, Newcastle 3 Wolves 0.
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