Wolves Fans' Verdict v Newcastle: A frustrating affair

Clive Smith

Sometimes we can be a hard watch. Passive, a slow tempo, too many square and backward passes. It particularly grates when you know we can play far better.

At times the result justifies the approach but here we fell just short.

Against Newcastle, for the third time running, we were by far the superior team yet failed to take the three points. We limited them to scraps from long balls and totally nullified their star player.

Semedo was much improved from the Leeds game, linking up with Neto, and with Podence and Jimenez each having a couple of shots early on, it looked like we might grab the initiative. It sadly proved a false dawn with too many players below par. Saiss failed as an attacking wing-back, Boly was too casual and predictable while Neves could not find a decent forward pass.

After the break we improved marginally as Podence became more involved and MOTM Neto looked the most creative. The goal eventually came, from the usual source, but we were undone by a rare Patricio error.

It's only six games in and we continue to be a work in progress. Our wing-backs need to suggest they can provide a goal or assist. Better finishing is needed from Neto and Podence so that we offer a greater threat in attack. Having Neves or Moutinho back to their best would help no end. Traore meanwhile is struggling to be an impact substitute too.

Adam Virgo

Frustrating to drop two points and gift Newcastle a draw in the fashion we did. The game was there for us to win but once again we decided to sit in on a 1-0 lead and it came back to bite us.

The goal we conceded was easily preventable. It’ll be easy for people to point the finger at Patricio but there are things we could have done to avoid being in that situation.

Of course the wall was set up badly but when we got the lead, bringing Moutinho on for Neves was baffling. It’s not as if Neves got a booking, he was playing brilliantly. We then lose control and end up sitting deeper which resulted in them even getting a chance as before that we had complete control.

The performance itself was better than the past two games for the majority, we had a lot more control and created some more chances. We probably should have scored before we did but the Jimenez goal was a fantastic strike, albeit some poor goalkeeping from Karl Darlow.

Podence, Neves and Semedo were the best three players I thought, Neto and the back three were sound also. Jimenez apart from the goal wasn’t too effective but it’s another goal for him and we are becoming far too reliant on him scoring at the moment.

This time last season we had four points and sat in 19th place so it is a much better start. We do have a lot more tougher fixtures coming up soon and after them, it’ll probably give us a better idea of where we’re really at. We have a lot of quality in the squad, we just need to utilise it well because if we create chances we will score goals.

Rob Cartwright

Very disappointed with the result. Newcastle were poor and we should have been well ahead by the time they equalised. Wolves' performance was simply not good enough.

However, it was not a foul by Coady and the free kick should not have been given. Coady stood his ground while Wilson went to ground and rolled around a bit.

I think we got distracted by Carroll coming on, as the wall was not positioned well and we were punished for leaving a gap.

We started the game brightly and took the game to Newcastle, without creating enough clear cut chances on goal. The second half was terribly frustrating, as we had all the possession but took until the 80th minute to score. Surprised to read we had 16 attempts on goal, as it did not feel like that when watching the game.

I would have liked to have seen more of Traore. He only played the final 22 minutes, while I would have liked to see him come on at half time.

My Man of the Match was Podence. Traore replaced him and I thought he was unlucky to come off, as he was full of running and trickery. He also had a couple of efforts on goal.

Neto and Jimenez looked good too, but somehow we need to be more creative as they were working with scraps really.

I thought Semedo was comfortable in possession, but we do need more balance down the left-hand side. Marcal should provide that when fully fit.

A game we should be winning, but a point is not a bad thing looking at results generally.

I hope to see better on Friday as this is another game we should be winning.

John Lalley

Two points carelessly and needlessly tossed away. This was a dire spectacle, desperately difficult to watch let alone enthuse over but the result should have been a formality after we had nosed ahead.

To let it slip after displaying the patience of Job was infuriating and entirely self-inflicted.

To have conceded a free-kick in shooting range was naive to begin with, but to fail to set up a proper defensive wall was utterly inexplicable. Newcastle posed no offensive threat all evening, the only way they could puncture our defences was from a set-piece and we absurdly obliged with the match there for the taking.

Mind you, Wolves hardly set any pulses racing themselves. Another tepid first-half and a desperate struggle to put limited opposition to the sword. In fact, the superb Jimenez strike came as a pleasant surprise as we had laboured ineffectively to make the breakthrough.

Newcastle defended with stubborn resilience and for all of our possession the visitors were never creaking under any great strain. When Wolves attacked the flanks and delivered decent crosses, gold shirts were disappointingly scarce in number. Without the departed Jota to share the striking load even more responsibility is now heaped on Jimenez; it’s a substantial burden he is carrying and a credit to him that he responds so often and so effectively.

In the first half, he had two shots both of which threatened to connect with Sir Jack’s statue outside the South Bank rather than the Newcastle goal. Similarly, after half-time his first effort was more likely to knock the hat off the Stan Cullis bronze beyond the North Bank.

But like all the best strikers he doesn’t retreat into his shell and hide; he just backs himself to get his radar spot-on at the next opportunity. He can appear ineffectual for long periods and then strike with devastating effect. He’s worth his weight in gold to us right now and so frustratingly, he should have been our match winner.

Russ Evers

Frustrating would be the most accurate description of that one. We were clearly the better side and enjoyed the main share of the possession but failed to do a lot with it other than a few half chances and long range efforts.

On the plus side it's another point gained and game unbeaten while Kilman must be in the running for Man of the match for the third game running and gave an assured display throughout.

Neves appeared to be operating way too deeply to have much of a positive effect but all in all, the evolution is slowly maturing and three points would have been secured other than a momentary lapse from Rui both in setting up the wall and allowing himself to be beaten at the near post following a soft free-kick.

Still, we are seventh and Marcal and Semedo looked positive, and Podence and Neto both showed a little more than previous games, so a little more sharpness going forward should see us okay.