Barnes screamer secures Newcastle comeback win at Wolves

A stunning Harvey Barnes goal late in the second half secured three points for Newcastle as they came from 1-0 down at half-time to win 2-1 away at Wolves. The result lifts the Magpies into third place and leaves their opponents still searching for their first league victory of the season.

It was Newcastle who controlled the early exchanges of the first half and came close to opening the scoring through Anthony Gordon who struck the post with a curling effort. However, in what became a tightly contested half, it was Wolves who took the lead on 36 minutes as captain Mario Lemina stroked home Jorgen Strand Larsen’s cross following a swift counter-attack.

Eddie Howe rung the changes with a triple substitution at half-time, but they had little immediate impact as Wolves dominated much of the second period and came close to doubling their lead through a stinging Strand Larsen strike that cannoned off the post.

Yet, as the game appeared to be a getting away from Newcastle, a hopeful Fabien Schar strike took a wicked deflection off Craig Dawson and found the net to level the game. Then, just moments later, the visitors took the lead through a stunning Barnes strike that curled perfectly into the top corner.

Wolves pressed for an equaliser right until the final whistle but were unable to break down the staunch Newcastle defence, leaving them with one point after four games and sat in 18th place. Newcastle, on the other hand, secured their third win in four games to leapfrog Liverpool into third place, making it their best start to a Premier League season since the 1995/96 campaign.

Following today’s defeat Wolves have taken just one point from their opening four games leaving them inside the relegation zone in 18th place. Gary O’Neil will likely not be too disappointed with his side’s performance given they weathered an early Newcastle, lead for a large period of the game and came close on several occasions to doubling that lead.

However, the way in which the game slipped away from the home side almost out of nothing will surely give the young manager a sleepless night as the fixture now feels very much like an opportunity missed.

With local rivals Aston Villa away next in the league game and Liverpool to follow after, the search for a first three points of the season may go on a few more weeks for Wolves.

Although ending up on the losing side the Wolves captain put in a performance worthy of the armband and can leave with his head held high. The midfield general worked tirelessly off the ball in the first half and provided a great outlet for his side once in possession.

The Gabonese international gave his side the lead in the first half with an assured finish following a lovely counterattacking move and almost created Wolve’s second as he twice teed up Strand Larsen who just couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

He appeared to instantly create a positive midfield partnership with new signing Andre, which can be a source of positivity for Wolves today.

Wolves: Johnstone 6, Semedo 5, Mosquera 6, Dawson 7, Ait-Nouri 7, Bellegarde 5, Andre 7, Lemina 8, Cunha 6, Gomes 6, Strand Larsen 5. Subs: Hwang 5, Doherty 4, Doyle, 5, Forbs 5, Guedes 5

Newcastle: Pope 7, Livramento 6, Schar 6, Burn 4, Hall 5, Longstaff 6, Guimaraes 6, Joelinton 6, Murphy 5, Isak 6, Gordon 7. Subs: Trippier 5, Barnes 7, Willock 6, Tonali 6, Kelly 5.

36’ – GOAL! – WOLVES 1-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED (LEMINA) – It’s the captain who gets the home side going! A quick counter from Wolves as Larsen gets the better of Dan Burn before playing an inviting ball across the Newcastle box, which is met by Lemina after a clever dummy from Gomes who deserves plenty of credit for that goal.

75’ – GOAL! – WOLVES 1-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (SCHAR) – Out of nothing Newcastle level the game! The ball finds it way to the Swiss centre-half who lets one fly from 25 yards out, it deflects off Dawson along the way and finds its way over Johnstone.

80’ – GOAL! – WOLVES 1-2 NEWCASTLE UNITED (BARNES) – Newcastle have turned it around! Harvery Barnes cuts inside from the left and unleashes a wonderful strike into the top corner for Newcaslte. Its vintage Har-vey Barnes and now its Wolves who trail.