15 mins A Wolves attack down their left flank was initiated by Diogo Jota, who took a return pass from Jonny before firing home - the shot nicking off the boot of Jamaal Lascelles en route to beating Karl Darlow at his near post. 0-1

32 mins Defensive slackness allowed Morgan Gibbs-White to steer the ball home from the edge of the box, Jonny with another assist. 0-2

40 mins Wolves advanced down their right and Isaac Hayden was caught in possession in front of his own goal by Jota, who supplied a routine finish. 0-3

Half time: Magpies 0 Wolves 3

85 mins Debutant Tom Allan inadvertently headed a Wolves corner taken by Ruben Vinagre past goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and into his own net. 0-4

Full time: Magpies 0 Wolves 4

Ben Dawson said:

"It was great for the younger lads to get on the pitch here and do the things we know they can do. The other positive is everyone we planned to get minutes got minutes."

About the appointment of Steve Bruce:

"Obviously I’m really pleased with that, the players and staff now know who is going to come in to lead the team. To my knowledge he is on his way and we hope he will be here soon to join the team at the hotel in Shanghai.

“We've been out here focusing on the preparation for the tournament. I haven't spoken to Steve yet. I'm not sure about the conversations he's had with Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley. I don't know anything about that.

"The manager is travelling here knowing our preparations are still going as planned and he has a full squad here for when he arrives."

Federico Fernandez added:

"I understand the fans and the situation but for us we want to work and be better as a team, work hard and be ready for the new season.

"We want to show the fans and everyone we can compete. Of course fans maybe want a different manager or players but we need to work hard to show we are ready for the Premier League.”
 

They Said

Nuno Espirito Santo said: 

"It was very tough to play in those conditions, very humid, 90 percent or more. 

"It’s very tough for the players, for both teams, it was a tough moment, but we stayed organised and that’s the idea, the shape, having the ball, managing the game and taking our chances.

“So, I’m pleased of the work of the boys in this moment of pre-season, it was good. The point is trying to progress, trying to improve day by day and when the real competition arrives, this is the moment that we test ourselves.

"The idea’s always the same. It’s always the same, improving on the things we do well and try to avoid the mistakes we made in the past. That is the idea of growing.

“Now we have to recover. Football in these conditions is not what we are used to seeing. The game is slower, so we cannot evaluate, what we want is to take advantage of the moment, trying to face good opponents, that can help us in the future, that’s the idea.

“We have people already taking care (of recovery). Ice baths, hydration, good food, we have to be ready for next time and go again.”

United's pre-season began in China on Wednesday with an entirely predictable heavy defeat in the first game of the Premier League Asia Trophy in Nanjing.

Kicking off in humid conditions and 27 degree temperatures, the Magpies fell behind on 15 minutes and were three down before the break.

Diogo Jota fired the Black Country side ahead and following a scheduled drinks break, Darlow was picking the ball out of his net again on 32 minutes after Morgan Gibbs-White struck. 

Two then became three five minutes before half time, Wolves advancing down their right and Isaac Hayden caught in possession in front of his own goal by Jota, who supplied a routine finish.

A raft of replacements during the second period reduced the average age of both sides; United's Kelland Watts clearing off the line from Taylor Perry in the 70th minute - those two players facing each other at U23 level last season.

One of those young Magpies did find the net with five minutes of normal time remaining - sadly for Tom Allan though, he inadvertently headed a Wolves corner past Freddie Woodman for 0-4.

If you're wondering why there's no mention of any scoring chances for United, there weren't really any apart from a Matt Ritchie snapshot and a harmless long range one from Jonjo Shelvey.

Nuno Espirito Santo may have bemoaned his club's lack of new signings, but the side he fielded was still uniformly better than Newcastle. And while their superior fitness levels reflect the fact that they are in Europa League action in just eight days, there's a general level of ambition and organisation that we can only dream of. 

Thanks to Paul English for crowd photos and this little beauty below - presumably directions in the event that the Newcastle United owner turned up......