44 mins Jonjo Shelvey's free kick from just inside the Wolves half dropped in the box and was half-cleared (possibly off an arm), allowing Mo Diame a shot that was blocked by a home player.   

Dropping free in the area, the ball was touched on by Jamaal Lascelles into the path of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who took a touch before rifling home a low shot from just six yards out in front of the South Bank aka the Sir Jack Hayward Stand 1-0

Half time: Wolves 0 Magpies 1

Full time: Wolves 0 Magpies 1

 
"We were complaining about the penalty not being given (for a shove on Mitrovic). From this he (the referee) went to a yellow card and then he was under pressure, so I think in the end I am pleased that he scored the winning goal and pleased that he was working so hard.

"With the pressure of the fans on top of him I think it was important to protect him and protect the team. I wanted to be sure that we had 11 players on the pitch.

"Wolves were dangerous in the first-half with their crosses as they were winning a lot of second balls.

"We managed the situation better and then they started playing more long balls to their strikers and it was easy for our centre backs. Then we won more second balls and had the chance to play on the counter attack.

"Every game is important to try and get three points and if we can do that the other teams have to keep on winning. The team is defending as a team and working very hard."

On home fans mocking Jonjo Shelvey (and chanting "dirty racist b*st*rd"):

"It was not an easy game for him but I think he did well. The team was working hard and he showed composure and a cool mind to play and to keep the ball. He did a good job for the team.

"He is a professional. He knows you have to concentrate on the game. Yes, we knew (what was coming) but one thing the FA has to maybe consider is what the fans say (to players). Maybe, to control what the fans say in every stadium and then they have more respect.”

Wolves boss Paul Lambert moaned:

"It is the referee's call but I know as an ex-player when you have been yellow carded and you raise your studs you are in danger no matter what league or division you are in. I think that maybe Rafa realised that at half-time and took him off. 

"He has been in the game longer than I have on the management side but I also know that when you raise your studs you are in trouble.

"The lad was offside for the goal as well so that is two big moments and the referee calls it the way that he sees it. I saw the foot being raised and he caught him.

"I was upset with one of their bench - I am not letting anyone come out and be derogative to my own bench. I am not having that so I will give it back.

"I'm delighted with the way that we played.

"I just felt we were the team pushing for a goal. The lads were doing everything I had asked of them in the first half and had got onto the front foot, but we conceded a poor goal.

"When you see the stats it shows that we were the dominant team and I’m not sure whether the goal should have stood.

"We didn’t get the breaks today but now we’ve got some big games coming up and you could see the atmosphere tonight was great. We just need to keep doing what we are doing and we will get that little bit of luck.”

 

Looks like they let the maniac programme cover artist loose in the tunnel as well....

Newcastle made it eleven wins on the road this season with a hard-fought victory at Molineux on Saturday night to reclaim top spot in the Championship, after passing it on to Brighton for a few hours following their demolition of Burton Albion earlier in the day.

Aleksandar Mitrovic struck a minute before half-time to decide the destination of the points in a display that was most memorable for its stoic defending on a freezing night in the Black Country.

A fabulous away following of 4,200 celebrated another away success as Wolves' league victory at St. James' Park earlier in the season was avenged with Jonjo Shelvey particularly enjoying the win.

After the final whistle Shelvey blew a kiss to the home fans who had booed his every touch, following his five match ban for abusing a Wolves player at SJP, as the midfielder had the last laugh.

But Ciaran Clark and Jamaal Lascelles stole the show with some towering performances at the centre of the defence and DeAndre Yedlin and Paul Dummett also worked tirelessly to defend the lead.

Making two alterations to the side that recorded a single goal success over Derby County the previous weekend, Lascelles and Jack Colback replaced Grant Hanley and Isaac Hayden.

Playing their first home game for a month, an enthusiastic Wolves side dominated the opening exchanges without seriously testing United - who soaked up the pressure but saw little of the ball.

Our first serious chance came after just three minutes when a quick counter attack ended with Colback shooting weakly towards goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Referee Craig Pawson did little to endear himself to United with his handling of Mitrovic, taking a one-eyed view of his exchanges with the home defence and showing him a yellow card when he appeared not to have offered any sort of challenge to a high ball. 

There was a let-off for the white-clad Magpies when Richard Stearman's close-range effort cleared Karl Darlow's crossbar midway through the half. And aside from a Mo Diame header across the six yard box following Matt Ritchie's 32nd minute corner, United hadn't looked like scoring until just before the break when Mitrovic was in the right place to shoot home.

The Serbian was substituted at the break in an attempt to keep eleven Newcastle players on the pitch; coming close to receiving a second yellow minutes before he scored after his boot made contact with the home 'keeper.

Rather than go like-for-like by introducing Daryl Murphy though, Rafa turned to the pace of Christian Atsu - available for the first time in seven games after playing at the African Cup of Nations.

Cheered on by the away fans along the full length of one touchline and in a corner of the ground, there followed a successful rearguard action to keep Wolves at bay - Darlow bravely claiming a couple of dangerous crosses in the closing stages.

Some late tactical substitutions and re-positionings made it a satisfying night of "game management" for the Manager when his side weren't at their best but the result was all-important and rightly celebrated by players and fans in unison.

That good husbandry even extended after the final whistle, when he took to the field and applauded the away support, having quietly steered Shelvey away from clapping home fans on the South Bank.

Both ourselves and Brighton are simultaneously in action on Tuesday night, as we travel to Carrow Road and the Seagulls host an Ipswich Town side who won 1-0 at Villa on Saturday. Nip and tuck.

Niall MacKenzie