[Sport] Ruben Neves salvages point for Wolves against injury-stricken Newcastle

[Dr@g0n]

 

Ruben Neves denied beleaguered Newcastle a priceless Premier League win as Steve Bruce’s relegation-threatened side had to make do with a point against Wolves.

Skipper Jamaal Lascelles had headed the Magpies into a 52nd-minute lead at St James’ Park but Neves levelled with an equally-impressive headed finish 17 minutes from time to ensure that the game - like the previous four between the two sides - finished 1-1.

 

However, both might have snatched victory in a late flurry during which Wolves defender Romain Saiss unwittingly blocked Joelinton’s shot on the line and saw the ball spin agonisingly over before home keeper Martin Dubravka, restored to the starting line-up, turned substitute Fabio Silva’s point-blank header on to the crossbar in stoppage time.

The home side started brightly and might have been ahead as early as the sixth minute when Jonjo Shelvey played a free-kick square for Joe Willock to pick out Isaac Hayden, who directed his header straight at keeper Rui Patricio.

 

 

Wolves were content to sit behind the ball when out of possession, but were almost made to pay for it when Miguel Almiron got in behind to run on to Shelvey’s 12th-minute pass and shoot across Patricio, only to see his effort come back off the far post.

The visitors gradually eased their way into the game, but Patricio had to save from Emil Krafth and Joelinton in quick succession and then saw an Allan Saint-Maximin strike ruled out for offside after he had parried Willock’s 24th-minute drive with the Magpies continuing to threaten.

 

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men called upon Dubravka for the first time with 14 minutes of the first half remaining when the Slovakia international turned Adama Traore’s header around the post, but the keeper was relieved to see Pedro Neto fire wastefully wide after Traore had breezed past full-back Krafth and squared.