Newcastle United’s new-look attack did enough as record-signing Nick Woltemade scored in a 1-0 win over winless Wolves at St James’ Park on Saturday.
WATCH — Newcastle v Wolves full match replay
Woltemade turned a header past Sam johnstone off a Jacob Murphy cross in the 30th minute, lifting the Magpies to the first win of the season.
Newcastle leap into ninth with five points, while Wolves remain dead last without a point and a minus-7 goal differential.
What a difference Nick Woltemade can make for Newcastle
Newcastle United were wonderful last season with a clinical-firing center forward in Alexander Isak, and it looked less fun without him. Enter Nick Woltemade, whose first impression was more Roberto Firmino than Alan Shearer. Woltemade was clever with the ball and excellent in hold-up play, two very important features if you’re going to take the place of Isak. Woltemade took three shots, drew two fouls, and was busy in both the pressing and impressing parts of this game. There’s no guarantee he’ll be a star, but Woltemade and Yoane Wissa (when he returns to health) will give Newcastle the chance to compete for Premier League placement without sacrificing their other three tournaments (FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Champions League).
What’s next?
Newcastle host Barcelona on Thursday in the UEFA Champions League, then head to Bournemouth on Sunday in the Premier League.
Wolves are home to Leeds United at 10am ET Saturday.
How to watch Newcastle vs Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. James’ Park — Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Newcastle vs Wolves final score — 1-0
Nick Woltemade 30'
Newcastle vs Wolves live updates — by Nick Mendola
Wolves making hay vs tentative Magpies
Eddie Howe is saving some bodies for Barcelona at midweek, it seems, as Wolves have had a lot of the fun since Joelinton and Woltemade exited the game.
More subs for Wolves
Rodrigo Gomes and Hwang-hee Chan come out of the game as Fer Lopez and Jackson Tchatchoua look to help Wolves chase down a point.
Newcastle and Wolves make subs
Woltemade and Joelinton are off for Newcastle vets Joe Willock and William Osula.
Wolves remove Arokodare, Mosquera, and Andre for Marshall Munetsi, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Jhon Arias.
Still 1-0 in the 66th minute.
Halftime — Newcastle 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
It’s 1-0 but it’s been a better watch than that.
Newcastle could have 3-4 goals and Wolves might have two on another day.
There have been 15 total shot attempts — nine to the Magpies — and Woltemade has looked like a Roberto Firmino clone in his Newcastle debut.
Rodrigo Gomes just wide
Hugo Bueno dribbles through the 18 toward the end line, creating space for a cross that Rodrigo Gomes heads across goal and just wide — solid contact but away from the target.
Nick Woltemade debut goal (video) — Newcastle 1-0 Wolves
Murphy sweeps in a cross and Newcastle record signing Nick Woltemade reads it better than Emmanuel Agbadou, leaning away from the Wolves back to nod past Sam Johnstone.
Pause in play
Woltemade takes a Guimaraes knock down and smashes a volley toward goal that catches Yerson Mosquera flush in the side of the head.
Play is halted for a few moments.
0-0, 26'.
Tremendous tackle
Hwang-hee Chan drives the right side and plays a terrific low pass across the 18 that Arokodare looks destined to slide inside the back post.
But a sliding Fabian Schar at full extension just tips it out to limit the damage to a corner kick.
Murphy again, denied
A long throw is nodded to the back post but Sam Johnstone does well to deny Murphy’s first-time hit at close range.
0-0, 14'.
Jacob Murphy at the other end
Nick Woltemade takes the ball atop the 18 and lays it off for Jacob Murphy, who curls a hard shot wide of the frame.
0-0, 5'
Wolves threaten twice in first minute
First a shot tipped wide by Nick Pope, then a shot from the ensuing corner blocked out for another.
Wolves answering the bell with vigor.
Newcastle lineup
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Barnes, Murphy, Woltemade
Wolves lineup
Johnstone, R. Gomes, Mosquera, Agbadou, T. Gomes, H. Bueno, Andre, Krejci, J. Gomes, Hwang, Arokodare
Newcastle vs Wolves preview
The Magpies sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool on the Transfer Deadline Day, bringing in Stuttgart star Nick Woltemade and Brentford striker Yoane Wissa. They won’t have Anthony Gordon due to suspension but will hope their wing depth is more than enough against a struggling foe.
Wolves are winless on the pitch but claimed one victory when they were able to hang onto Jorgen Strand Larsen through the transfer deadline. Vitor Pereira’s squad have been hit in stardom and depth, and a Strand Larsen exit may have been too much after Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri walked out the door.
Pereira will hope that Tolu Arokodare, Fer Lopez, Jackson Tchatchoua, Ladislav Krejci, and David Moller Wolfe help pump up the team. There’s been hope along the way — Week 3’s five-goal thriller wirh Everton brings hope — but Wolves are the lone Premier League team without a point after three games.
Newcastle are off to a slow start themselves, results-wise, and will be counting on the home crowd and their superior talent to deliver a first win of this young season. Their defending was good last time out, but goals failed to arrive at Elland Road.
Newcastle United team news, focus
OUT: Jacob Ramsey (foot), Yoane Wissa (knee), Anthony Gordon (suspension)
Wolverhampton Wanderers team news, focus
OUT: Jorgen Strand Larsen (undisclosed), Leon Chiwone (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Hugo Bueno (knock), Ki-Jana Hoever (knee)
Newcastle vs Wolves prediction
Joelinton’s return is huge but the statuses of Ramsey and Wissa are a challenge. The Magpies may need Woltemade to hit the ground running at St. James’ Park. Both teams need this, but SJP is enough of a difference maker here. Newcastle United 2-0 Wolves.
