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Wolves 1-2 Newcastle United: Ba, Fletcher header, Gutierrez great-strike
Unbeaten Newcastle United moved into third place in the Premier League table after a dramatic 2-1 victory against Wolves at Molineux, Saturday 01/10/2011.
Demba Ba, who netted a hat-trick against Blackburn last week, was on target again with a powerful header in the 17th minute, before Jonas Gutierrez doubled the visitors' lead after the half-hour mark.
Wolves were furious not to be awarded a penalty just before half-time as Jamie O'Hara won a free-kick which was actually inside the box, and Steven Fletcher's header two minutes from time proved insufficient with Kevin Doyle having a late goal controversially disallowed.
Doyle, on the week he signed a new four-year contract at Molineux, partnered Steven Fletcher in attack for Wolves, but it was O'Hara who drew the first save from the excellent Tim Krul with an exquisite free-kick in just the second minute.
The in-form Ba took just 17 minutes to make his mark as he headed powerfully beyond Wayne Hennessey from Yohan Cabaye's pinpoint corner, and Wolves were punished for slack marking.
Both goalkeepers were in inspired form, and Hennessey parried a rasping drive from Cheik Tiote on the half hour mark after Krul had denied Doyle with a reflex save with his legs moments earlier.
But in an open game in which the play lurched incessantly from one end to the other, Newcastle were the more clinical.
Gutierrez picked up the ball out wide following sloppy play from Karl Henry, and the Argentine cut incisively through the Wolves half before driving an unerring low shot beyond Hennessey into the far corner of the net to double his side's lead.
Three minutes later, Wolves were left to feel very aggrieved at not having been awarded a penalty as referee Mark Halsey gave a free kick after Steven Taylor bundled over O'Hara, with replays showing the incident to have been inside the area.
An increasingly agitated Mick McCarthy made a double change on the hour mark as he introduced Adlene Guedioura and Adam Hammill at the expense of the ineffectual Stephen Hunt and Henry, but it made little impact.
Ba should have doubled his tally in the 68th minute as he received the ball with just the keeper to beat following ferocious harrying from his strike partner Leon Best, but he dragged a tame shot wide as the chance was squandered.
Krul then made a quite stunning double save to deny Fletcher and Doyle as the Dutchman once again made a distinguished contribution for the Magpies, to the disbelief of the hosts.
Wolves finally mustered a breakthrough two minutes from time as a precise delivery from substitute Hammill picked out Fletcher, who headed beyond Krul, and a dramatic finale ensued.
Doyle thought he had salvaged a late point for his side as Jarvis headed back across the Newcastle six-yard box for the Irishman to turn the ball home at the second attempt, but the flag went up for the ball having apparently drifted out of play. Replays suggested it was a harsh call.
McCarthy was a despondent figure at full-time as his side slumped to a dispiriting home defeat, but the travelling fans were jubilant as Newcastle's inspired start to the campaign continued with a fourth victory which sees them go third in the table, albeit with Chelsea not in action until Sunday against Bolton.
Dan Quarrell - follow on Twitter: @danquarrell
Source: Eurosport
TEAMS LINE-UP:
Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Hunt, Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis, Doyle, Fletcher. Subs: De Vries, Edwards, Vokes, Hammill, Zubar, Doherty, Guedioura
Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best, Ba. Subs: Elliot, Santon, Guthrie, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
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