After three straight defeats in all competitions, featuring a cup final defeat and two ‘big six’ rivals leapfrogging us in the league, it feels like our season has reached a crossroads.
Personally, I’m not too worried. I accept we’ve looked a little flat since the turn of the year – one win in our last eight Premier League games and just three goals in that spell is frustrating, along with this growing habit of missing big chances.
However, I’d be far more concerned if we weren’t creating a thing. We looked the better side with 10 men against Liverpool, created three huge opportunities against Man City and limited Nick Pope to just one save at the Etihad.
Callum Wilson doesn’t look himself and a tiring Miguel Almiron looks short on ideas, but we have £120m of talent ready to step up in Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Allan Saint-Maximin. The question is, will Howe stay loyal to his first-team regulars or freshen things up against a much-improve Wolves?
Six of our last eight Premier League meetings have ended in a 1-1 draw; a result few Mags would thank you for. It’s our first home game since our trip to Wembley and a big chance to get back to winning ways. Our Champions League hopes may seem like a long shot, but it’s worth remembering we’ll be back in fourth should we win our games in hand on Spurs and Liverpool. Even if top four seems unlikely, three points would be massive in a week where European contenders Brighton play twice.
Speaking ahead of the game, Howe delivered this determined message in Friday’s press conference:
“Through every season there are difficult moments and there are patches where you don’t win the games maybe you should. That’s the time, I believe, you have to be really strong mentally and know it will change.”
“They [Wolves and Forest] are two big games because of where they’re situated with the international break.
“We want to go into that break in a really good moment. We’re determined to end this run of games in a confident way.”
Team news
Fabian Schar is back from concussion and Bruno Guimaraes (ankle) has been passed fit, but Joelinton begins a two-game ban after picking up his 10th yellow of the season last weekend.
Ryan Fraser won’t feature after being told to train with our U21s, while Emil Krafth (ACL) and Harrison Ashby (hamstring) will also be absent.
For the visitors, left-back Hugo Bueno (hamstring) is out alongside Diego Costa, Hwang Hee-chan and Boubacar Traore
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Willock – Almiron, Isak, Saint-Maximin.
Howe has three of four big decisions to make this weekend. Who starts in attack after more missed chances against Man City and does he change it at left-back now Matt Targett is fit again?
Starting at the back, I think Dan Burn will keep his place over Matt Targett for now. It could restrict us going forward, but Howe may be reluctant to tweak what’s been a very solid defence or throw Targett straight back in for such a huge game after several months without a Premier League start. I do think Fabian Schar will return to the side at Jamaal Lascelles’ expense. A tough one for the skipper – who was very rock solid at Man City – but Schar’s ability on the ball can really help us get on the front foot, especially at home.
It’s an easy switch in midfield, as Joe Willock will almost certainly replace the suspended Joelinton. Big Joe’s physicality will be missed against a tough Wolves engine room, but Willock’s ability to carry the ball at speed and arrive into the box could hurt them.
Out wide, I’d expect Allan Saint-Maximin to return. He often comes alive at St James’ Park and scored a stunning equaliser to salvage a draw at Molineux earlier in the season. Personally, I would like to see Miguel Almiron rested and Anthony Gordon keep his place, but Howe may be reluctant to make too many changes – not to mention the latter wasn’t spotted in training photos earlier this week.
Up top, will Howe stay loyal to Callum Wilson or give Alexander Isak a chance from the off? He admitted the latter isn’t ready to play 90 minutes on a consistent basis just yet, suggesting he’s still building up match fitness. However, Isak has looked sharper than Wilson for several weeks now and has to start, for me.
Prediction
Wolves have improved under Julen Lopetegui, doing us a big favour last weekend with a 1-0 win over Spurs; although that will only give them extra belief ahead of their trip to Tyneside.
They’ve tightened up defensively and may look to frustrate us with that low block we’ve often struggled to break down at SJP, but I’m backing us to get back to winning ways.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Wolves
Hoping for good.result today we need it
think ERIC has gone on a trip if I remember
Icedog(Quote)
Ice – yeah likewise mate, I’m not even bothered about performance today an ugly 1-0 win would do just nicely thank you. We’ve got to get back to winning ways in the next 2 games – especially as results yesterday went our way.
Hope you’re right about Eric too. I know he goes on his trips away so home it’s just that and nothing bad 🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Actually , yeah I seem to remember him saying he’d booked a trip somewhere but not sure for when.
I would also settle for an ugly win, we need to get back to winning ways. Have an horrendous cough at the moment, throat feels like it’s been rubbed down with sand paper, horrible feeling i have given it to Lewis too 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
Casimiro out for our game. 2nd Red Card
PremAndUp(Quote)
PREM. that will be a help hopefully
Icedog(Quote)
lovely
kimtoon(Quote)
Isak starts
kimtoon(Quote)
Watched the Arsenal game & 2 things.
1 – I didn’t realise Trossard was that good to be honest – excellent today.
2. Tierney played and really was very good at LB. I can see why we’d be interested in him – but his injuries would still be a major concern.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bloody scum won ffs
Icedog(Quote)
Surprising number of changes as that hasn’t been Howe’s preference. After that, the surprise is Murphy before Gordon, when replacing almiron , that hopefully allows quicker balls to middle.
Should have enough if shooting boots working
HWTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Gorrden out w.it’s ankle injury
Icedog(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Hmm .. not on bench .. injured ??
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Sigh .. **Gordon not on bench
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
He may make me eat my words, but I’m pleased Murphy is on the right today – not necessarily coz it’s Murphy but I think having a right footed player on the right will give far better balance.
I don’t think he’s playing for his future by any means, but it will be good to see what difference it makes.
I’m going 2-0 Newcastle 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
Trippiers set pieces have been so poor again so far today!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
😂😂😂 good lad Trips – I’ll get back in me box 😂😂😂
Superb header!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
GetinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnIsak, great ball from Trips
kimtoon(Quote)
should be 2
kimtoon(Quote)
jeeze how did that not go in
kimtoon(Quote)
Really need another, Wolves still very much a threat.
kimtoon(Quote)
based on this half motm is Isak looks very lively, linking up well with ASM too.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well I enjoyed that!!
Murphy is playing well and I think the speed of our attacks down the right have been better today.
But it’s the left side that I’ve really enjoyed. Maxi & Isak are linking up so well.
Isak needs players behind him to break their necks to get forward though coz he’s in great positions and looking up and there’s no one there.
Really fast paced though & great to watch – let’s get a few more from open play now please
Sharpy17(Quote)
Scrappy to start .. no surprise with all the changes.
Good to see a decent attempt after a good delivery for the goal
Shame there wasn’t a 2nd during dominance after 1st goal
More please. HWTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Dan Burn has been brilliant too in fairness.
Don’t get why the foul on Schar for the freekick for the goal is being questioned so much either – it was clearly a foul.
However – not a clear as the penalty they should have had off Pope 🤦🏼♂️. Don’t think it was a sending off – but it was a nailed on penalty imo. Defo got away with one there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gordon out for three weeks ffs
Icedog(Quote)
yeah they should of had a pen
kimtoon(Quote)
Wilson needs to score now
kimtoon(Quote)
ffs and with Isak gone off we are unlikely to get back in front now
kimtoon(Quote)
. that was soft but tbh wolves have been bettter team 2nd half
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Miggyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
kimtoon(Quote)
Newcastle are and look like a team in transition as they try to adapt after a tough month or two
Lots of let’s win ugly comments before the game and so it turned out.
Did well to keep going after wolves equalised and then shaped up for a point
win next week and life looks brighter
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Well I said I’d take a scrappy 1-0 win. Turned out to be a bit of a scrappy 2-1 win in the end – but we WON!!!.
As much as I enjoyed the first half, I didn’t the second half.
We seemed to sit back and let them on to us – really frustrating to watch at times.
I thought Murphy played really well, along with Maxi – but MOTM by far was Isak. I was so impressed with him & think he’s got the potential to be a real star player for us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well I only saw bits and pieces of the match and missed the equaliser and our winner. I’m out in the South African bush and signals are very poor and tried to get a stream but my wifi gadget died about 10 mins into second half. Great win though. Isak looked excellent from what I saw. Very pleased with Murphy too.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – hope you’re having a mint time mate, that’s on me bucket list but it’ll be a few years yet.
Sharpy17(Quote)