Wolves 1-1 Newcastle: Player Ratings as Late Murphy Free Kick Earns Magpies a Point
A late Jacob Murphy free kick secured Newcastle a 1-1 draw against Wolves at Molineux.
In a quiet first half, the hosts dominated proceedings but Allan Saint-Maximin came closest to opening the scoring with a deflected effort from range.
In the second half, Newcastle defended extremely deep and frustrated their hosts for long periods. However, Wolves finally found a breakthrough when Jimenez lashed one home from the edge of the box.
Not to be disheartened, the Magpies rallied late on with Jacob Murphy bending in a free kick with just one minute of normal time to play.
Here are your Wolves and Newcastle player ratings from an uneventful afternoon.
WOLVES
1. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Rui Patricio (GK) - 4/10 - Questions must be asked for the free kick. The wall was placed poorly and he should have kept it out.
Willy Boly (CB) - 6/10 - Dealt with Saint-Maximin for the most part. Had an easy game overall with the Magpies really threatening.
Conor Coady (CB) - 7/10 - A couple of excellent long balls from the England international. Not troubled defensively.
Max Kilman (CB) - 7/10 - Flawless in possession. Could play a big role for Wolves as the season progresses.
2. Wing Backs & Midfielders
Ruben Semedo (RWB) - 7/10 - Looked dangerous throughout. Registered more dribbles than any other player on the pitch.
Leander Dendoncker (CM) - 6/10 - The more conservative of Wolves' double pivot looked a bit like a spare part at times. His defensive assurance simply was not needed as Newcastle offered so little.
Ruben Neves (CM) - 7/10 - Dictated the play for his side, racking up just shy of 100 passes in total.
Romain Saiss (LWB) - 6/10 - Outshone by Semedo on the opposite flank. Did not offer much and was substituted just after the hour mark.
3. Forwards
Pedro Neto (RW) - 6/10 - Let a great chance go begging after the break. Summed up an enthusiastic if wasteful display.
Raul Jimenez (ST) - 8/10 - A couple of terrible finishes early on. Not like him at all. Made up for this with a lethal strike that so nearly won his side the game.
Daniel Podence (LW) - 7/10 -Wolves' most potent creative outlet. Also fired off a few shots which might have gone in on a different day.
4. Substitutes
Adama Traore - 6/10
Fernando Marcal - 6/10
Joao Moutinho - 6/10
NEWCASTLE
5. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Karl Darlow (GK) - 7/10 - A few good saves and commanded his area well.
Jacob Murphy (RB) - 8/10 - Penned in at right-back as part of Steve Bruce's game plan. Kept his discipline well. This astute defensive display was capped off by a superb equaliser.
Fabian Schar (CB) - 7/10 - Played his part in Newcastle's almost perfect defensive performance with some important blocks.
Jamal Lascelles (CB) - 7/10 - Made a few heroic clearances. The captain led Newcastle's stoic rearguard action.
Federico Fernandez (CB) - 7/10 - Composed and assured. A disciplined display.
Jamal Lewis (LB) - 7/10 - Defended well, making several good tackles. and blocks. In terms of attacking output... zilch.
6. Midfielders
Ryan Fraser (CM) - 5/10 - Probably not what he was expecting from his first Magpies start. Struggled to impose himself in central midfield and barely touched it.
Jeff Hendrick (CM) - 6/10 - Chasing shadows for much of the game.
Miguel Almirón (CM) - 6/10 - Did okay in a unfamiliar position - one truly horrific tackle aside. Lots of manic running around.
7. Forwards
Callum Wilson (ST) - 7/10 - Starved of service but did his best from slim pickings.
Allan Saint-Maximin (ST) - 6/10 - A strange performance. Occasionally looked unplayable, other times he looked decidedly unbothered.
8. Substitutes
Joelinton - 6/10
Sean Longstaff - 6/10
Andy Carrol - N/A