Jacob Murphy’s late free-kick snatched a point for Newcastle at Wolves.
The winger scored his first Premier League goal for the Magpies in almost three years to clinch a 1-1 draw at Molineux.
Raul Jimenez’s excellent half-volley with 10 minutes left looked to have given dominant Wolves the points.
But Murphy’s leveller denied Nuno Espirito Santo’s side the chance to climb into the top four, while the Magpies remain well clear of any early trouble in 14th.
Newcastle were on the back foot for much of the game and the hosts were slicker throughout.
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- Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, a former goalkeeper himself, suggested the equaliser represented something of a gift.
“I’ve have to see, but the ball cannot go in on that side of the wall…clearly not,” he told Sky Sports.
“If it goes over the wall, then we have to deal with that, but the side of the wall on the short corner? It cannot go in.”
Asked about his side’s propensity to start slow and pick up in the second half, he added: “I wish we could play (for) 90 minutes, always good. That’s the aim.
“The second half we started better. The goal was well deserved but in the end we should manage the game better. We’ll get there, the boys are working hard.”
- Steve Bruce, Newcastle
Magpies boss Steve Bruce praised Murphy for his hard work in practice after seeing his training ground efforts pay off.
“I’m very pleased for Jacob in particular. He’s been knocking on the door since pre-season,” he told Sky Sports Premier League.
“I’m delighted. I saw him taking free-kicks on Thursday….it comes from the training ground and goes in.
“Whether he’s blaming his goalkeeper, I’ll let Nuno go to work with that, but Jacob is last on the pitch practising these things. I’m delighted.”
As for his own keeper Darlow, whose position was questionable for Jimenez’s goal, Bruce added: “He’s done fantastically well just to be on the pitch. Most people would be out with the knock he’s got.”
- Jacob Murphy, Newcastle
Murphy revealed some last-minute research into Patricio helped him.
“Last night in the hotel I did a bit of research on the goalie and I knew anything hard and low would catch him out,” the winger told Sky Sports Premier League.
“I looked round the side of the wall and saw the gap and thought ‘yeah, I’ll hit it there’.”
Murphy also admitted to fretting over his performance on his first Premier League start of the season.
“I was a bit nervous going into the game but I spoke to my brother and he gave me some reassuring words before kick-off, which was nice,” he said.
“I’ve worked really hard in training and been dying to get a start. Hopefully I’ve done enough to get the manager to think I’ve done well.”
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