Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JONNY COME LATELY
Wolves rescue yet ANOTHER late point but Nuno wants to solve the problem of letting opposition gain the advantage
WOLVES are the comeback kings – as Jonny rescued a point with another second-half revival.
They would be 18th in the Premier League if games stopped at half-time, such is their problem of starting slowly and letting the opposition get ahead.
But Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo wants to solve the mystery of why they take 45 minutes to get playing.
If their results in second halves were taken in isolation, they would be top three.
Eleven of Wolves’ league goals have been scored in the second half, with just two in the first. Nuno (below) said: “Again, first half not so good, second half very, very good.
“Why better in the second half? Many things, but if I knew why it would not have happened today! I will work this season to find out why.
“Second half we were dominant, created chances and we have to be more clinical. We were dynamic with movement and ability.
“It is about improving and being more dominant in the first half.
“We punish ourselves and it is happening too many times, conceding first, and it requires a lot of effort to get back. Let’s hurt them first and do better.
“We have had 20 games already. That is a lot of competition and to show this character, stamina and energy shows the team is prepared to deal with all these games.”
A draw at St James’ Park, after a trip to Bratislava, extended their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions and five in the top flight.
It was Jonny who ended Newcastle’s chances of a victory after a switch in formations at half-time from 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 put Wolves on the front foot.
Adama Traore dinked Matt Doherty free down the right and his cross was palmed straight into Jonny’s path by keeper Martin Dubravka. The Spaniard blasted home for his first goal of the season. Dubravka, who signed a six-year deal last week, was disappointed with the way he dealt with the cross. Newcastle have only conceded three at home in five league games, one of the best records in the division, but scoring enough goals will be their problem this season.
The game was flat until skipper Jamaal Lascelles struck in the 37th minute with a powerful near-post header.
Newcastle had shown flashes of danger using the pace of Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-maximin.
But when a Matty Longstaff cross was flicked away to wide on the right, Wolves were disorganised and Federico Fernandez sent the ball to the near post for Lascelles to convert.
It was the skipper’s first goal since January 2018 and he became the sixth different scorer of Toon’s six goals so far this season.
Then came a controversial dismissal – youngster Sean Longstaff sent off for a late and high tackle on Ruben Neves.
Referee Kevin Friend did not hesitate to pull out a straight red, but Neves made the most of being caught late. Longstaff winced after making the challenge and that did not help his cause.
United boss Steve Bruce pointed a finger at Neves, saying: “When they roll around like that you know they’re not hurt. Rolling around and screaming, I’m dubious.”