Almiron lifts Toon and gloom for Bruce
IN THE context of their season, this was a creditable point for Newcastle, although they left Wolverhampton requiring three hands to count their injury list.
The rot of three consecutive defeats was stopped and Steve Bruce was heartened by the desire and application on show by a team already depleted before the start and even more so by the end.
Just the 13 players now battling fitness problems after Paul Dummett and Dwight Gayle were forced off with hamstring issues before a third of this game was out. ‘In all my years, I’ve never known anything like this,’ lamented Bruce, with an FA Cup third-round replay against Rochdale to follow on Tuesday.
There were positives in the performance, though. They led after seven minutes through the eye-catching Miguel Almiron, now offering consistent reasons why he briefly became their record signing last year, and managed this game towards the end to make sure the poor run halted.
Yes, the equaliser they conceded only seven minutes after striking first was basic — Leander Dendoncker easily volleying home — but Bruce can come away relatively content.
They were brave to begin with, matching Wolves up, and looked fairly comfortable once reverting to 5-4-1 in preservation of a draw.
Martin Dubravka had more than a little to do with that, completing two stunning saves to thwart Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto headers from close range.
The stop from Jimenez, with his outstretched left leg before the break, drew applause from the home supporters when beamed on Molineux’s big screens. ‘Fantastic,’ was Nuno Espirito Santo’s assessment of Dubravka’s display.
There were others putting bodies on the line too, Matty Longstaff providing heroics by scampering back on his line to hook clear Matt Doherty’s effort. In truth, Wolves did not create a great deal else.
‘I’m not happy because we didn’t perform like we should do,’ said Nuno. ‘There were some good saves but we should improve some deliveries in the final third.
‘We are working on signings. We need solutions, players that can help us in different situations.’
Newcastle are having no rest from the injury scares, with more than enough to field a starting XI now. Bruce saw two players break down in two minutes at Rochdale last week and four break down in 12 minutes against Leicester.
At one point it looked as if Joelinton might become another.
The £40million striker, who the manager believes is struggling mentally, played through the pain of a groin injury.
When he eventually came off, Andy Carroll his replacement with 11 minutes remaining, the travelling fans cheered ironically.
The dissent was not quite as audible as at Rochdale last week and he earned praise from his boss.
‘With the injuries it was going to be a tough afternoon,’ Bruce said. ‘I was thinking of taking Jo off but it would leave us with no subs and you run the risk of finishing with 10 men. He wanted to stay on.
‘We’re down to the bare bones. It’s ridiculous. We lost three or four at Rochdale, two more today.’
Bruce’s main causes for optimism bookended the draw. The goal was wonderfully crafted, and evidence of the sort of link-up play Gayle was offering.
Newcastle powerfully moved through the lines. Gayle chested off for the marauding Jetro
Willems, who returned possession. Gayle was off balance but alert to Almiron’s run, slipping in the winger and his finish was emphatic into the top corner.
It was Newcastle’s 500th away Premier League goal. Far more pertinently, though, was that preceded serious trouble. Dummett hobbled off and seconds later, Wolves were level.
VAR decided against overturning the decision not to award a penalty after Ciaran Clark and Neto collided, yet Newcastle were not alive at the resulting corner.
Federico Fernandez was the guilty party, on his heels as Dendoncker seized upon a flickon, hooking in the equaliser.
Newcastle have now been ahead in matches for only 349 minutes all season. ‘We made four mistakes for the goal,’ Bruce said. ‘But we deserved the result. I couldn’t fault the effort and endeavour.’