Agent47 Posted February 28, 2021 Posted February 28, 2021 Captain Jamaal Lascelles says Newcastle "need to stop talking and put points on the board" after missing a chance to move further clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a draw against Wolves. Newcastle boss Steve Bruce was also concerned at losing the influential Miguel Almiron, saying he "fears the worst" about the Paraguayan's injury. Almiron was substituted at half-time and Bruce says he will have a scan on Sunday. Lascelles headed the hosts in front from Ryan Fraser's cross in the second half and they looked good for their lead after a confident performance. But Ruben Neves, who had never scored a headed goal for Wolves before, was awarded space to guide Pedro Neto's delivery beyond Martin Dubravka to earn the visitors a point. Dubravka, making his first Premier League appearance of the season, may have done better for Wolves' leveller but produced a superb save to deny Fabio Silva in added time. Newcastle were left to rue a number of missed opportunities of their own, with Almiron striking the far post after breaking the offside trap early in the first half. It means 18th-placed Fulham can move within one point of Newcastle if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday, while Wolves remain 12th. "We had very good chances and we are lost for words," Lascelles told Match of the Day. "We got a point but it should have been three points. "A lot of positives but we need to stop talking and put the points on the board." Reaction to Newcastle v Wolves and the rest of Saturday's Premier League matches Lawro's predictions v Dot Major from electro-pop band London Grammar Newcastle boss Bruce dished out a personal vote of confidence during the week when he told supporters he was "convinced" the club would avoid the drop this season. His side were 10 points clear of the relegation zone three weeks ago but that will be cut to just one if a resurgent Fulham win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. If it was not for a wonderful save by Dubravka to keep out Silva's header in stoppage time, the Cottagers would head into that fixture with the chance to go above them. Bruce will feel vindicated by his decision to drop Karl Darlow and start Dubravka, his number one before this season, having only played once in all competitions because of a heel injury. The Slovakia international could arguably have done better to keep out the Neves header that brought Wolves level, but his instinctive save from Silva late on was vital. Bruce was frustrated by the space Neves found himself in to score Wolves' goal, admitting there was confusion over his side's defensive positioning after Matt Ritchie replaced Emil Krafth. "The instructions Matty didn't get on to the team quick enough on how we were doing it," said Bruce. "When you look at the goal, we should have stopped the cross and when the keeper looks at it, could he have done better?" Newcastle enjoyed a number of opportunities with Almiron's golden chance and Isaac Hayden heading straight at Rui Patricio, while Joelinton's scuffed effort was cleared off the line late on. Allan Saint-Maximin even had the ball in the net after teeing up Joe Willock before tucking in the rebound after the on-loan Arsenal midfielder's shot was saved, but he had strayed into an offside position. The breakthrough did come thanks to Lascelles' first league goal since also he also scored against Wolves in October 2019. But Newcastle will no doubt view this as two points dropped, especially after Brighton's 1-0 defeat at West Brom earlier. They visit both of those sides in their next three matches in potentially crucial encounters.
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