Opinion
**Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Saturday 13 September 2025 3pm**
What a difference a goal makes!
We needed Nick Pope to make two good saves in the first minute as Wolves flew out of the blocks. But what could have been a nightmare turned into a dream debut when Big Nick Woltemade started to repay the £65m investment with a classic header after 29 minutes of frenetic action.
Even before his goal, BNW had shown lots to like with his link play and determination. Yes, he does have great feet for a 6ft 6incher.
Jacob Murphy should have buried an earlier close-range chance that Sam Johnstone blocked and our late-flowering gem also went close with two powerful efforts from outside the box.
His cross for the first goal was reminiscent of his assists for a former United striker who, to quote Eddie Howe, chose to play for another club. Let’s hope the Murphy/Woltemade partnership is even more fruitful.
Sandro Tonali hit a low drive off the post just before the interval. Two-nil then would have probably sealed the deal against opponents who seemed to deflate like a punctured tyre once we took the lead. We continued to dominate after the interval but didn’t make the most of decent approach play.
BNW and Joelinton were replaced to a well-deserved standing ovation by Will Osula and Joe Willock after 65 minutes. Wolves made three substitutions and in all collected four bookings from a card-happy incompetent ref, while offering almost nothing in attack in the second half.
The game became disjointed, with two more Wolves subs brought on for the final 12 minutes. That seemed to galvanise them without producing any great threat. Anthony Elanga replaced a misfiring Harvey Barnes on the left after 82 minutes. Will either start on Thursday night? Will Sven Botman, who was introduced in stoppage time in place of the excellent Murphy?
One United player who looks irreplaceable is Tonali, who was better than anyone else on the pitch.
At the other end of the spectrum was Chris Kavanagh, who upset both teams and all the coaches with officiating that went from bad to worse.
A late, late free-kick conceded by Bruno Guimaraes, who was booked, was deflected for a corner that came to nothing.
One Woltemade goal, three points, job done.
**Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Saturday 13 September 2025 3pm**
(Stats via [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cly7k3zdge1t))
**Goals:**
**Newcastle United****:**
Woltemade 29
**Wolves:**
**Possession** was Newcastle 57% Wolves 43%
**Total shots** were Newcastle 16 Wolves 8
**Shots on target** were Newcastle 4 Wolves 3
**Corners** were Newcastle 10 Wolves 4
**Touches in the box** Newcastle 29 Wolves 23
**Newcastle team v Wolves:**
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton (Willock 65), Barnes (Elanga 80), Woltemade (Osula 65), Murphy (Botman 95)
**Subs:**
Ramsdale, Hall, Thiaw, Krafth, Miley
**Newcastle United fixtures confirmed dates and times (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):**
**Thursday 18th September:** Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona (8pm)
**Sunday 21 September** – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
**Wednesday 24 September** – Newcastle v Bradford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+
**Sunday 28 September**– Newcastle v Arsenal (4.30pm) Sky Sports
**Wednesday 1st October:** Union SG vs Newcastle United (5:45pm)
**Sunday 5 October**– Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports
**Saturday 18 October** – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)
**Tuesday 21st October:** Newcastle United vs Benfica (8pm)
**Saturday 25 October** – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)