JACOB’S CRACKER

Murphy gets it off Pat and earns Toon a point by doing homework on Wolves keeper

JACOB MURPHY rescued a point for Newcastle with a clever free-kick – then revealed he had worked out how to fox Wolves keeper Rui Patricio.

Raul Jimenez’s goal in the 80th minute looked to have won it for the home side.

But Murphy (left) had spent time studying Patricio and it paid off with the equaliser.

“Last night at the hotel I did a bit of research on the goalie and I knew anything hard and low would catch him out,” he explained.

“I looked around the side of the wall and I saw a little gap

and thought I’d hit it there - and it worked.”

Toon boss Steve Bruce said the 25-year-old had caught his eye since returning from loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

“His hard work has paid off,” said Bruce. “I told him to go out and repeat what I’d seen him do on the training pitch on Thursday - and he did.

“He was arguably our best player and I couldn’t be more delighted for him because he’s looked a different player since he’s come back.

“He looks as if he’s matured and that’s great because I really wanted him to be a Newcastle player.”

Bruce said Jonjo Shelvey will have surgery today for a hernia problem and could be out for about a month.

“We’re hoping he could be available after the international break,” he said.

Bruce paid tribute to goalkeeper Karl Darlow for even managing to get out on to the pitch to face Wolves. Darlow was hurt in a collision with Marcus Rashford in last week’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester United. “He could hardly walk on Tuesday’” said Bruce. “I take my hat off to him.” Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was far from happy about his team’s positioning for Murphy’s equaliser. Patricio (below) was caught out at his near post and Espirito Santo said: “We made a mistake with the set-up of the wall. We have to set up the wall correctly.

“The ball cannot go on that side of the wall. After that it is clear, everyone knows if it goes on the side the goalkeeper should be there.

“We were solid and didn’t allow them chances. We just made a mistake in the final moments of the game.”