Toon Takeaways from Newcastle’s 1-1 away draw vs. Wolves

Newcastle United take a point on the road in a draw vs. Wolves.

Miguel Almiron provided the opening goal for Newcastle United before Leander Dendoncker leveled things for Wolves. The rest of the match featured close calls and physical tackles, but neither club could find a winner in a 1-1 draw.

Masterful from Miggy

Miguel Almiron was very good today for Newcastle United. After a great run minutes earlier that ended in a wide shot, Miggy was able to blast home his next chance to put Newcastle up early on vs. Wolves. It was not only his action in the attack that caught my eye, but it was also his effort and work rate in defense. He made a few defensive runs to help contain the blinding pace of Adama Traore.

It’s great to see him playing with confidence and cashing in with his chances in the final third. With a rejuvenated Almiron, it’s going to be fun whenever they can add Allan Saint-Maximin back into the equation.

Another Two Bite the Dust

Oh, you thought Newcastle United could finish this match without adding any more injuries? You were mistaken. Paul Dummett and Dwight Gayle both returned from injuries recently before the pair departed in the first half with leg injuries. It’s just a remarkable run of poor luck with injuries lately for the Magpies and who knows when or if Steve Bruce will have a full choice of players this season.

Defending on the Doorstep

Not including the goal, there were two times in this match that the ball seemed destined for the back of the Newcastle United net. But, Martin Dubravka kept a Raul Jimenez header out of the goal with a kick save and Matty Longstaff stopped a shot from crossing the line in the second half. Not long before the 80th minute, Dubravka would come up again on a close-range header from Neto. In such a closely contested match, those moments proved to be massive for the Magpies.

Quick Kicks

• Martin Dubravka is one of the best business moves I can think of in the Premier League recently. His cost was so low and he comes up so big for the Magpies when it seems unlikely that anyone could.
• Federico Fernandez was lacking a sense of urgency today for NUFC. He gave Dendoncker too much space on the opening goal for Wolves and there were times he didn’t step to an attacking player on a run with enough conviction and allowed himself to get run past.
• Watching Adama Traore fly up and down the pitch made me miss Allan Saint-Maximin even more than usual. See you soon, ASM…
• With a lot of close matches recently, this was a pretty physical match and was chippy at times.
• Too often in his appearances, Andy Carroll ends up touching the ball out wide more than he does in the middle, where he’s much more dangerous. He had a cross late in his one and it would’ve been nice if it was, well, himself in the box to get on the end of it.
• I would’ve liked to see one of the young players, Kelland Watts or Thomas Allan, make an appearance in this one, but the two injuries essentially took that option away.
• There was a funny moment when Matty Longstaff was shown a yellow card and was fuming and started to walk away, but big brother Sean grabbed his shirt and pulled him back to face the referee.
• Also, for what it’s worth, I think Matty was the better Longstaff on the day for Newcastle.

Okay, What’s Next?

A replay in the FA Cup awaits Newcastle United this week. They will host Rochdale on Tuesday after drawing 1-1- vs. them last Saturday. The League One side defeated Bolton Wanderers today, 2-0.