Half time: Wolves 0 Magpies 0

80 mins A free-kick from the Wolves left was played into the box and headed clear by Callum Wilson, but only to the edge of the box where a waiting Raul controlled the ball and volleyed it goalwards.

The Mexican striker's powerful shot wasn't quite in the top right hand corner of Karl Darlow's goal, but he attempted unsuccessfully to stop the effort with his left hand as he dived right. 0-1

89 mins Jeff Hendrick's ball forward to Wilson saw Conor Coady nudge him in the back and Lee Mason award a free-kick on the right edge of the box, at the South End of the ground.

Jacob Murphy, Fabian Schar and Miguel Almiron all clustered over the kick, the latter shaping to swing it over left-footed but making a decoy run and leaving it for Murphy.

He proceeded to curl a perfect effort around the right edge of the badly-placed wall and low inside the post, Rui Patricio scrambling to his left in a futile attempt to keep it out. 1-1

Full time: Wolves 1 Magpies 1

NES said:
 

"Our aim is always to try to play well for 90 minutes. There's a lot of things we can improve. We need to be sharper in our combinations and improve with our final delivery but defensively we were OK.

"There are positives and negatives like all games. We need greater mobility but we'll get there. The boys are working hard."

Jacob Murphy's 89th minute free kick ensured that Newcastle left Molineux with a point on Sunday night - and remain unbeaten there in all six of their Premier League visits.

The black and whites had fought a mostly rearguard action against a Wolves side who looked to have claimed victory when Raul Jimenez fired an 80th minute shot beyond Karl Darlow from outside the box.

However a rare upfield excursion saw Callum Wilson draw a foul from Conor Coady and win a free kick on the right side of the area.

Miguel Almiron, Fabian Schar and Murphy all stood over it and it was the latter who whipped a right-footed effort around the wall, between Rui Patricio and his post.
 
That was enough to retain our unbeaten PL away record this season - after the 2-0 win at West Ham and an even later equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Spurs.

Murphy was one of four changes to the starting lineup in last weekend's 1-4 home loss to Manchester United, replacing Emil Krafth at right wing back.

Fabian Schar returned in a central back three, while the absence of both Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden saw Jeff Hendrick move to a central midfield role - with Almiron and Ryan Fraser to his left and right respectively.

Coming into the game after successive 1-0 victories, a confident Wolves side bossed the opening stages and Darlow made his first save with just five minutes gone.

United survived that shaky start though despite a series of unforced errors gifting possession to the hosts and Wilson won a corner after his 17th minute shot was deflected.

Aside from one trundling effort by Saint-Maximin, that was the sum total of our goal attempts in the first half - Wilson almost continually isolated amongst a sea of old gold shirts.

A lack of intensity by Wolves in the final third though meant that Darlow was less occupied than in his last two outings, Nuno Espirito Santo's side again living up to their billing of slow starters by failed to net in the first half. 

With no significant increase in pressure on the visiting defence, Wolves made a double change on 68 minutes. That brought Adama Traore on to threaten down the right, but Jamal Lewis mostly kept him at bay - Fraser and Almiron both making timely clearances from within their own penalty area.

United's own twin switch brought Joelinton and Sean Longstaff to the field, but almost immediately Wolves scored what appeared to be the winner.

The home side were initially angered when Referee Lee Mason blew to halt an attack and brought play back for a free kick on the left side of the field.

Neto delivered the free kick although it was headed out by Wilson, the lurking Jimenez took a touch before firing beyond Darlow - a decent enough strike but hardly unstoppable. Only the goalkeeper will know whether he had 100% movement following his clattering by Marcus Rashford last week.

Going behind did finally coax United forward as Wolves began to ease off, apparently secure in the knowledge that the three points were theirs.

Wilson then tumbled after challenging for a speculative ball upfield and after Andy Carroll had come on, Murphy capped an energetic display by levelling.

"Jacob's cracker" was the Sky verdict, but had his effort not gone in, then there would have been few crumbs of comfort for the Magpies.

For all the personnel change and tactical reshuffle, this was another exercise in containment; we simply never looked like scoring a goal from open play.

Murphy aside, Fraser and Almiron both got pitch time that can only be beneficial - but we lacked both pace and power, our fate apparently dictated once again by Saint-Maximin's effectiveness, or lack of it.

Wolves will rue Rui Patricio's crucial lapse of judgement (in not positioning his wall correctly) or concentration (from not tracking the shot), but they should have been out of sight long before that.

Although not defying logic to quite the same extent as last month's 1-1 draw at Spurs, the most pro-Bruce disciple couldn't claim that we deserved this.

44 PL games in we remain "a work in progress" but there simply has to be more achievable from this squad than currently being realised by this coach.

Talk of this being a hard place to visit and a great point is disingenuous, as we observe a similar protocol regardless of venue or opponent. Look past the industry and it's a football-free wasteland for the most part.

It is what it is, as Bruce is fond of saying. Bleak.

Biffa