Newcastle United Vs Wolves Player Ratings: Nick Woltemade 8/10 Rated as The Magpies Secures Narrow 1-0 Victory

It was a tense and hard-fought battle at St. James' Park, but Newcastle United ultimately emerged victorious. They secured a vital 1-0 win over Wolves in a classic Premier League grinder. The atmosphere was electric, but the football wasn't always pretty. It was a match decided by a single, crucial moment of quality. Wolves started surprisingly bright, forcing Nick Pope into a couple of sharp saves inside the opening minutes. But Newcastle grew into the contest, asserting its dominance. The breakthrough came on the 30-minute mark, a fantastic header from Nick Woltemade that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. It felt like a deserved lead given the pressure they were applying.

The second half was a story of resilience from Newcastle and frustration for Wolves. The visitors just couldn't find a way to break down a resolute Magpies defence. In the end, one goal was enough to separate the sides and give Newcastle the three points they so desperately craved. Here are the Newcastle United vs Wolves player ratings.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Wolves

Here are the Newcastle United player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - 7.5: We thought Pope was immense today, especially in the opening minutes. He made three crucial saves inside the box that kept Newcastle on level terms when Wolves came out flying. His distribution was decent enough, but it was his shot-stopping that earned his rating. That one high claim showed his command of the area. A really confident performance that laid the foundation for the win.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - 8.0: What an outlet he was. From our perspective, Trippier was one of Newcastle's most important players. He created an astonishing five chances from right-back and his crossing was on another level, with seven successful deliveries. He was a constant threat going forward and still solid defensively winning most of his duels. A complete full-back performance.

Fabian Schär - 7.5: A true defensive general at the back. Schär was an absolute rock, making a staggering 10 clearances. He dominated in the air, winning six aerial duels, and wasn't afraid to step into midfield with the ball. He even created a chance. We noticed his positioning was impeccable throughout, sniffing out danger before it even developed.

Tino Livramento - 6.0: A slightly subdued performance from Livramento. He was tidy in possession, boasting a 96% pass accuracy, but we felt he struggled in his defensive duties. He was dribbled past twice and only won five of his 14 duels which is not great. He showed flashes of his attacking talent but couldn't quite make a decisive impact. A quiet day at the office for him.

Dan Burn - 7.0: Big Dan Burn did exactly what was asked of him. He was a commanding presence, winning a majority of his aerial and ground duels. His passing was reliable, and he made some important clearances and interceptions. He wasn't spectacular, but he was incredibly effective and played a huge part in securing the clean sheet. You need players like him to grind out 1-0 wins.

Midfielders

Joelinton - 6.5: It was a classic battling display from Joelinton before he was substituted. He was a physical presence in the midfield, winning his duels and getting his foot in. What stood out to us was the big chance he created with a clever header. He did his job well for the 65 minutes he was on the pitch, providing energy and power to the engine room.

Sandro Tonali - 7.5: We were so impressed with Tonali today. He was desperately unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork with a powerful strike. He was busy all over the pitch, drawing four fouls and showing great energy. His two shots on target showed his intent, and he was a driving force from midfield. A really dynamic and all-action display.

Bruno Guimarães - 6.5: A very mixed performance from the captain. On one hand, his 10 ball recoveries were immense and he drew five fouls, showing how disruptive he can be. On the other hand, he lost possession 19 times and picked up a needless yellow card. He created a couple of chances but from our perspective, it was a somewhat frustrating and inconsistent display from a player of his quality.

Forwards

Harvey Barnes - 6.0: It just wasn't Harvey Barnes' day. He had a few shots but couldn't find his range, failing to test the keeper. He kept possession well with a 90% pass accuracy but we expected more from him in the final third. He struggled to get the better of the Wolves defence and was eventually substituted. A bit of an off-day.

Jacob Murphy - 7.0: Murphy was a livewire, and his assist for the goal was the game's defining moment of quality. He was constantly looking to make things happen, taking four shots and attempting to run at his man. However, his final product was sometimes lacking, as evidenced by only one of his nine crosses finding a teammate. A vital contribution but a bit wasteful overall.

Nick Woltemade - 8.0: The match-winner and our Man of the Match. His goal was a brilliant header, showing great movement and desire to get on the end of the cross. Beyond the goal, his work rate was phenomenal. He won an incredible eight out of 11 duels, showcasing his strength and commitment. A fantastic performance from the young forward before his substitution.

Substitutes

A series of late substitutions saw Joe Willock, William Osula, Anthony Elanga, and Sven Botman enter the fray. They all helped Newcastle United see out the victory with fresh legs and defensive solidity. No rating can be given due to limited minutes and stats.

Manager

E. Howe - 7.5: Howe set his team up perfectly to get the job done. He recognised the need to be solid defensively after Wolves' fast start, and his team executed the game plan well. The timing of his substitutions was spot on, managing the game professionally in the final stages to secure the 1-0 win. A tactical victory for the Newcastle boss.

Wolves Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Here are the Wolves player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Sam Johnstone - 7.0: Johnstone can hold his head high despite the loss. He made three important saves inside the box and couldn't do anything about the goal. His command of his area was tested and he responded well with three punches and a high claim. His distribution was a bit mixed, but he kept Wolves in the game for long periods.

Defenders

Emmanuel Agbadou - 7.5: From our perspective, Agbadou was Wolves' best player. The defender was a warrior at the back, throwing his body on the line with four blocked shots. He also made six clearances and two interceptions. He was a colossal presence for his team and did everything he could to repel the Newcastle attacks. A very impressive individual performance.

Yerson Mosquera - 6.0: A decent, if unspectacular, outing for Mosquera before he was substituted. He was very tidy with the ball, completing 94% of his passes, and made three important interceptions. However, he struggled a bit in the physical battles, losing a couple of aerial duels. He did his job without any major errors.

Toti - 5.5: A difficult afternoon for the Wolves captain. Toti struggled to impose himself, winning only three of his eight duels. He lost possession 14 times and looked a little shaky against the Newcastle press. It was a tough assignment for him, and he wasn't able to lead his backline to a clean sheet on this occasion.

Midfielders

Hugo Bueno - 6.5: A very busy performance from Bueno. He was a willing runner up and down the left flank, putting in seven crosses and winning a high number of duels. However, he was dribbled past twice and his final ball wasn't always accurate. He worked tirelessly for the team but lacked that little bit of quality in key moments.

André - 6.0: André was perfect with his passing, not misplacing a single one, but his impact was minimal. He picked up a yellow card and was substituted after 66 minutes having failed to really influence the game's flow. A tidy but ultimately quiet performance from the midfielder. We expected to see a bit more from him.

João Gomes - 6.5: Gomes was everywhere in the midfield, a real ball of energy. He made a fantastic nine ball recoveries and won eight duels. The downside was his discipline; he committed five fouls and received a yellow card for his troubles. A combative and disruptive performance, but he needed to be a little more controlled.

Rodrigo Gomes - 7.0: We were impressed by Rodrigo Gomes, especially in the first half. He looked like Wolves' most dangerous player, taking three shots and successfully completing two dribbles. He was a bright spark for the visitors and constantly tried to create something. A promising display before he was taken off.

Ladislav Krejci - 6.0: A tough day for Krejci in the middle of the park. He picked up an early yellow card which seemed to affect his game. While he created one chance, he struggled to get a foothold in the midfield battle. He was combative but ultimately couldn't dictate the tempo for his team.

Forwards

Hee-chan Hwang - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the forward. He had a couple of shots but never really looked like scoring. He was isolated for large parts of the game, only touching the ball 26 times in 77 minutes. The service to him wasn't great, but he also struggled to make an impact when he did get on the ball.

Tolu Arokodare - 5.5: It was a real physical battle for Arokodare up front, and one he often lost. He won just six of his 15 duels and was dispossessed once. He provided an aerial target but offered very little goal threat before being substituted. A very difficult and thankless task for him today.

Substitutes

Jhon Arias, Marshall Munetsi, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Jackson Tchatchoua, and Fer López were all introduced in the second half. They brought some fresh energy but were unable to find the crucial breakthrough for Wolves.

Manager

V. de Oliveira Lopes Pereira - 6.0: His team started the game brightly but faded quickly after conceding. The defensive setup was breached only once, but his side lacked creativity and a cutting edge in attack. His substitutions didn't change the course of the match, and Wolves left looking toothless in the final third. A frustrating day for the Wolves manager.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Nick Woltemade