Willy Boly‘s 95th minute header earned a draw for Wolves
Newcastle sit just one point above the relegation zone
Miguel Almiron made his Newcastle debut
Willy Boly saved the day for Wolverhampton Wanderers at home as they drew, 1-1 with Newcastle on Monday evening. The tall French centerback rose highest to head home a dramatic mistake from Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the fifth minute of extra time, saving a point for Wolves and denying the Magpies three vital points for the second consecutive match.
With the draw, Newcastle sit just one point above Southampton and the relegation zone, with 25 points from 26 games.
Wolves meanwhile are in seventh place, with 39 points on the season.
Earlier in the second half, Isaac Hayden put Newcastle up front with a blast of a strike that Rui Patricio couldn’t keep out, and it seemed Newcastle were well on their way to victory against a Wolves side that seemed to be missing that cutting edge. Newcastle were later boosted offensively by the introduction of record signing from Atlanta United, Miguel Almiron, off the bench in the 72nd minute.
In the first half, Wolves certainly had more thrust and attacking vigor, working Newcastle’s right and left side early and often. However, the Magpies were resolute defensively, including the U.S. Men’s National Team’s DeAndre Yedlin at right back. Neither side was able to create too much on goal, but it seemed like whichever team tired or made the mistake first would be punished.
That happened when Wolves fell asleep in the 56th minute. Fabian Schär has acres of space to run into, and his through ball on the ground found the midfielder Hayden advancing into the box. Hayden fired on goal and perhaps surprised Patricio, scoring inside the near post to give Newcastle a lead.
With Almiron on, it seemed as if Newcastle may add to the lead. Almiron showed no fear in running at the Wolves defense but clearly isn’t at his sharpest after two months without a game.
However, it was a crucial mistake in the game’s final moments that saved a point for Wolves and stole two from Newcastle. Manager Rafa Benitez might rue this moment should Newcastle go down, missing out on four of the last six points available due to goalkeeper errors.
Liverpool has drawn back-to-back matches in the Premier League to allow Manchester City to pull into a tie for the league lead on 62 points (City has played one more match).
The Reds are 2-2-2 in their last six matches across all competitions, and while this is the Premier League club power rankings, there’s little question that they’ve lost some mojo.
Man City has been pretty good despite a loss to Newcastle, and Spurs have gone about their business despite missing Harry Kane and Dele Alli (for a relatively soft patch of schedule).
So is this enough to sink Liverpool below Man City (or Spurs), given that Liverpool is just a win in its match-in-hand from reclaiming the league lead?
Read on (Or just scroll down real quick. We’re kidding. Read every word. Twice).
20. Huddersfield Town — It’s been 417 league minutes since the Terriers scored a goal. They have one point in league play since the calendar turned to December 2018. Last week: 20 Season high: 16 Season low: 20
19. Fulham — The two goals allowed against Palace make it 12 conceded in Fulham’s last five matches. Last week: 18 Season high: 11 Season low: 20
18. Burnley — The point gained at Manchester United is almost offset by the two dropped at home to Southampton. The Clarets’ run-in is tricky, and they simply have to find wins more often than not when they are not facing the big boys. Last week: 17 Season high: 13 Season low: 20
17. Cardiff City — Whether you’re a Neil Warnock fan or not, the reaction he’s provoked from his men after a 3-0 loss to Newcastle and the disappearance of Emiliano Sala’s flight is impressive. A close loss to Arsenal followed by a defeat of Bournemouth sits well with all. Last week: 19 Season high: 13 Season low: 20
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
16. Southampton — A point earned at Burnley is fine, especially considering the club’s luck in not conceding an early penalty. Last week: 16 Season high: 13 Season low: 20
15. Brighton and Hove Albion — Failed to rebound from the loss Fulham loss; The Seagulls looked flat in a home draw with Watford. Last week: 12 Season high: 9 Season low: 19
14. Newcastle United — Solid resolve against Spurs; The goalkeeper is part of the team, yeah, but the Magpies deserved better than the loss resulting from a very rare Martin Dubravka error. Probably too stubborn to go down now. Last week: 15 Season high: 13 Season low: 19
13. Everton — The home loss to Wolves was disconcerting, but a close contest at Goodison Park versus Man City was encouraging enough to proffer some hope; Everton deserved a point against the champions. Last week: 14 Season high: 5 Season low: 15
12. Crystal Palace — Did what it needed to do at home to Roy Hodgson‘s old club Fulham. How will Hodgson deal with no Wilfried Zaha for two matches? Last week: 12 Season high: 6 Season low: 17
(Nick Potts/PA via AP)
11. Bournemouth — Just when the Cherries had claimed three points against one of the big boys (in their eighth try), they fail to deal with a charged-up Cardiff City and lose 2-0. Last week: 9 Season high: 6 Season low: 14
10. Leicester City — Jamie Vardy was just a shade off his game, and it cost the Foxes a point against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s Red Devils. Last week: 10 Season high: 7 Season low: 13
9. West Ham United — A plucky point versus Liverpool sends the Irons above a Leicester side which couldn’t get their plucky point at home to Manchester United. Last week: 11
Season high: 6
Season low: 20
8. Watford — A huge match ahead against former boss Marco Silva‘s Everton. Last week: 8 Season high: 4 Season low: 14
7. Arsenal — We wouldn’t want to be Huddersfield Town this weekend, even if the desperate Terriers are at home. Last week: 5 Season high: 2 Season low: 9
6. Wolves — If Liverpool fails to win the league, Nuno Espirito Santo should be Premier League Manager of the Year. Last week: 7 Season high: 5 Season low: 13
5. Chelsea — Yes, it was against Huddersfield Town, but if the Eden Hazard-Gonzalo Higuain brace-bagging performance was a sign of what’s to come, well, maybe Maurizio Sarri is playing with a stacked deck. Last week: 6 Season high: 1 Season low: 6
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
4. Manchester United — The most odd thing about United’s unconvincing win over Leicester City is how encouraging it is to see the Red Devils win when it really isn’t that deserved. Ole’s unbeaten streak goes forward, and should reach PSG. Last week: 4 Season high: 4 Season low: 14
3. Spurs — Not Mauricio Pochettino‘s fault Man City got to play twice while we only saw Spurs slip past Newcastle. One spot back. Last week: 2 Season high: 2 Season low: 8
2. Liverpool — The best thing Liverpool has going for it right now is that they’d have to lose a game in order to fall from the title fight’s driver seat, and they are picking up points even while looking quite average (for a Top Four team). Last week: 1 Season high: 1 Season low: 4
1. Man City — Similar to their neighbors, City’s defeat of Everton showed some resolve while on the back foot. And that win over Arsenal, aside from the set piece goal, well, c’est magnifique. Last week: 3 Season high: 1 Season low: 3
For the second time, Shrewsbury Town was leading one of the top 20 clubs in Britain before conceding to tie the score. This time, they couldn’t hold on.
Ivan Cavaleiro’s second half goal put the finishing touches on a Wolverhampton Wanderers comeback as Wolves defeated Shrewsbury Town, 3-2, in a Fifth Round FA Cup replay. Matt Doherty, who assisted on the game-winner, scored Wolves’ first two goals in the first half.
Wolves got off to a perfect start when Doherty poked home at the far post in the second minute to give the hosts the lead. But in the 11th minute, Shrewsbury struck back as James Bolton headed home off a corner kick.
Shrewsbury took a shock lead yet again as Josh Laurent’s strike was mishandled by Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy and it slipped into the net in the 40th minute. Five minutes later, Doherty saved the day for Wolves, heading a mistimed-clearance in to tie the match at 2-2.
It didn’t start well for the hosts. Cooked by Matt Doherty, Leighton Baines took the inventive Irishman down in the box.
Neves got Pickford going the other way on the penalty, and it was 1-0 for Nuno Espirito Santo‘s men.
But Everton’s Portuguese midfielder blasted a shot by countryman Rui Patricio 20 minutes later, Gomes dribbling into the box before hammering home.
Jimenez then kept up his hot heading by turning a free kick inside the near post, and it was 3-1 was Dendocker volleyed a rebound past Pickford.
To their credit, the Toffees did not quit and had the better of the chances the rest of the way. Patricio made a solid stop on substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 88th minute.
10 – Rúben Neves has scored his 10th goal in all competitions for Wolves but only his second from inside the box, both of which have been penalties. Lupine. #EVEWOL
Gonzalo Higuain is on the scoreboard as a Premier League player, and his first contribution is very much what we’ve come to expect from the former Napoli man.
But penalties are the name of the game(s), accounting for three of the day’s six matches.
Higuain took a terrific pass from N'Golo Kante, and just hammered a shot to the near side of Jonas Lossl. Eden Hazard converted a Cesar Azpilicueta-won penalty for the other goal.
