The Times - UK (2022-04-09)

the times | Saturday April 9 2022 2GS 11

Premier League Sport

the ball we didn’t create any chances.

We should be more aggressive to find

the chances, especially in the final

third.

“In the second half we had clear

ideas, much better to manage the game,

but it is disappointing. We missed a big

chance to win.”

It was around the hour mark that

Newcastle stirred into life. St James’

Park had been quiet for the opening 45

minutes. For the second those present

roared their side on to a victory to end

all of their concerns of relegation. Allan

Saint-Maximin shot over on the turn in

the 63rd minute, and in the 64th

Wood could not get on the end of Saint-

Maximin’s low cross.

The breakthrough goal was regard-

less on its way. Wolves were sloppy

once more in possession, and on the

counter a superb flick from Saint-

Maximin sent Joelinton scampering

through, the Brazilian found the perfect

pass to send in Wood, and the striker

two real goalscoring chances on an

evening when they showed little of the

fluency that has lifted them so high in

the table. On both occasions the oppor-

tunity fell to Fabio Silva. He headed

wide from eight yards in the 79th min-

ute, and then was denied when his shot

was saved by Martin Dubravka. The

absence of the suspended Raul Jimenez

was felt.

The South American influence was

similarly huge. Bruno Guimarães was

given his first start at St James’ since his

£35 million transfer from Lyons at the

end of January and he was the game’s

best player, careful and clever with the

ball, quick in the tackle and central to

the first-half strike from Wood that was

ruled out. Guimarães had taken a pass

from Miguel Almirón and crossed in a

position that the VAR would rule off-

side, but not before the grounded Wood

had shot past Sá and celebrated.

“It was a frustrating night, especially

the first 45 minutes,” Lage said. “With

was brought down before getting up to

score.

“It feels like a big win for us,” Howe

said. “On the back of the three defeats

we knew we had to respond. I’m very,

very pleased with everybody. It was

always going to be a difficult game.

They are a difficult team to break down.

“Bruno did very well. He showed real

intelligence in possession, in terms of

his positioning, and his desire to get

on to the ball is so strong.”

NEWCASTLE UNITED

M Dubravka 7 — E Krafth 6, F Schär 6, D Burn 7,

M Targett 6 — B Guimaraes 8 (S Longstaff

88min), J Shelvey 6, Joelinton 7 — R Fraser 3

(M Almirón 13), C Wood 7, A Saint-Maximin 7

(J Murphy 90). Booked Schär.

WOLVES

J Sá 5 — W Boly 7, C Coady 6, M Kilman 5 —

Jonny 6, L Cundle 6, J Moutinho 7, Marcal 6

(R Ait-Nouri 85)— Trincão 4 (C Cambpell 78),

F Silva 6, H Hee-Chan 6 (P Neto 77).

Booked Moutinho.

Referee P Bankes.

Perhaps there is something about play-
ing under the lights of St James’ Park on
a Friday night for Chris Wood. A penal-
ty he won and then converted, late in
the second half, was enough to all but
banish any remaining fears that New-
castle United will start next season in
the Championship.
It was his first goal at St James’ since
he scored for Leeds United five years
ago. Then it was an equalising goal,
again on a Friday night, deep into
stoppage time to break Newcastle’s
hearts.
In his 12th start after his £25 million
transfer from Burnley in January came
his second goal, and his first on home
soil. For that he was a hero, scoring at
the Gallowgate End of the stadium. The
relief felt tangible, for him and for his
manager, Eddie Howe. A three-game
losing run was brought to an end.
Wood, who had a goal disallowed for
offside by the VAR in the first half, had
raced on to a through-ball from Joelin-
ton, took a touch, and then tumbled to
the turf under a rash challenge from
the Wolverhampton Wanderers goal-
keeper, José Sá.
The referee, Peter Bankes, to his
credit, was up with play. He pointed
immediately to the penalty spot,
and after a check from the
VAR that confirmed
Wood was onside, the
ball was placed on the
spot and the gaze of
the New Zealand
international never
left it until he
had crashed it
into Wolves’ goal,
straight down the
middle, as Sá dived to
his left.
There were 18 minutes
left, and it was a crucial
moment. In celebration Wood stood
for five seconds with his fists clenched.
A load looked lifted from his shoulders
as his celebrating team-mates jumped
on to them.

“I am so, so pleased for him,” Howe

said. “As a striker coming here you have

to score. When you haven’t scored at

home in front of your own supporters it

can be a difficult weight. He was

really challenged.

“It is rare to see from a

No 9 that he is willing to

sacrifice himself for

the team and that is

why I am so pleased

he has got his goal.”

It would prove

enough to see off a

Wolves team who

were largely woeful. A

dispiriting defeat

robbed them of the

chance to move sixth, but

that very outcome had never

looked likely. It was a frustrating night

for Bruno Lage, left unhappy with his

players’ careless play. He cut an angry

figure, and with good reason.

Only at the death did his side create

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crucial

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Wood is brought down by Sá, leading to the penalty which the striker converted, much to the annoyance of Lage, below

Wood eases Newcastle’s nerves

ALEX LIVESEY/DANEHOUSE/GETTY IMAGES

Ellen White moved to second in the

all-time England charts with her 50th

international goal in the 10-0 World

Cup qualifier win over North

Macedonia (Molly Hudson writes).

Her 41st-minute header means only

Wayne Rooney is above her in the

rankings with 53 goals, and she

overtakes Sir Bobby Charlton and

Harry Kane, who are equal third on 49.

Beth Mead scored four goals, Ella

Toone, below left, completed a hat-

trick and Georgia Stanway scored

twice in a victory that moves England

to 63 goals scored and zero conceded

in seven qualifying matches.

Newcastle United Goal spree for England
Wood (pen) 72 1

Wo l ve s

Martin Hardy

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