Newcastle issue scary Premier League statement as Alan Shearer record beaten
Lee Ryder
6 – 7 minutes
Newcastle United looked like a team ready to rewrite history against Wolverhampton Wanderers – with one record equalled and another ticked off.
The atmosphere at St James’ Park was easily one of the best of the campaign as Eddie Howe’s side looked like a team with the bit between their teeth. Incredibly, they chalked up their ninth win in a row in all competitions to level a club record with Rafa Benitez’s class of 2016/17.
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But it will rightly be Alexander Isak who gets the most plaudits after edging past the great Alan Shearer and his current team-mate Joe Willock to score for the eighth successive game in the Premier League.
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The Magpies won the toss and attacked the Leazes End first with Bruno Guimaraes celebrating a small triumph. Newcastle would come up against a Wolves side who were prepared to line up five defenders across the final third to protect Jose Sa’s goal.
Newcastle were robbed by VAR decision in Paris | Football Digest
Newcastle were robbed by VAR decision in Paris | Football Digest
It was Jacob Murphy who had the first attempt to open the scoring but his low shot from the right-hand side was read by ex-Porto star Sa then pushed to his right before rolling to safety. Wolves had a clear opening on 13 minutes when Goncalo Guedes screwed Hwang Hee-chan’s cross wide of the target.
But Newcastle were presented with a great chance when Murphy zipped a fine cross into the danger zone before Isak’s poke was saved by Sa from close range on 15 minutes. Murphy was in the thick of things again when he dropped his shoulder before striking at Sa, with the keeper making a one-handed stop and Isak following up just too late.
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Wolves star Matt Doherty ended up in the book just after the mid-way point of the first half. The defender protested furiously to referee Darren England after he felt Dan Burn had upended Guedes in a duel on the left flank.
Isak attacked down the left-hand side on the half-hour mark, but after latching on to Bruno’s pass and cutting inside, he sent a shot rolling wide. But he would not be denied three minutes later as he bagged a Premier League record of eight goals in eight games.
His shot would take a deflection but Isak deserved his moment after picking up the ball wide on the left from Anthony Gordon’s pass before driving towards the penalty area. The Sweden star then drifted past Andre with Joao Gomes’ attempts proving feeble to stop him.
The ball skipped up off Gomes before Isak casually shimmied around him and moved into the dee before his shot spun off Rayan Ait-Nouri to finally beat Sa. However, Murphy deserved big credit after carrying the ball from his own half to start the move in the first place.
A late scare at the end of the first half resulted in Jorgen Strand-Larsen sending a good chance wide of the post but Newcastle went in with the lead.
Howe’s team went in at the break having enjoyed 65% of the possession and creating nine goal attempts and arguably should have been further ahead. Wolves made a change at half-time and introduced Brazil international Matheus Cunha for Hee-Chan.
It could so easily have been 2-0 when Bruno slipped in Gordon on 51 minutes but his effort took a deflection over the bar. But that second goal was not far in coming as Isak helped himself to a second of the night.
This was Isak’s ninth goal in his last six games and it was a fantastic finish to complete another great move. It came after Tino Livramento had pressed high before the full-back tossed a throw-in to Murphy.
Murphy then picked out Bruno before the South American left the Wolves defenders standing with a superb pass that split open the visiting defence. Isak casually took a touch before applying the finish close to the penalty spot and doubling Newcastle’s advantage.
Isak would turn from scorer to provider with 17 minutes to go. Joelinton had released Isak but his effort was blocked before the Sweden ace composed himself and rolled it sublimely to Gordon to sweep home and make it 3-0.
The strike was subject to a lengthy VAR check but it would stand and give Newcastle an unassailable lead. Wolves thought they had a goal back when Santiago Bueno netted but it was chalked off by VAR for handball.
Howe used the comfortable lead to make a raft of changes late on and handed the likes of Miguel Almiron, William Osula and Joe Willock the last 16 minutes. Kieran Trippier and Lewis Miley also got run outs late on.
After an enquiry came in for Almiron from his old club Atlanta United this could well be goodbye from the Paraguay international. But the night belonged to Isak after he took his tally to 17 for the season.
Dubravka made a superb stop to deny Strand Larsen in the 83rd minute as he smothered his shot before it clipped the woodwork. It was the perfect way to cap his 36th birthday.
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The scary thing is despite this glut of victories, Newcastle don’t look like they have hit top gear yet. They moved into the top four but there could be much more to come from Howe’s team.
Referee: Darren England
Attendance: 51,975
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