Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players | OneFootball

We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Newcastle 1 Wolves 0.

A welcome first win of the season and our third clean sheet of the campaign.

The win was deserved but we didn’t dominate proceedings.

Wolves came to Newcastle with no points, no Strand Larsen, and having had a depressing transfer window. But there were times this afternoon – the first five minutes and the last 20 – when they looked like they may take something back to the Midlands.

Our opponents had some strapping lads in their line up – Burn and Schar were up against Deontay Wilder – so it was a more of physical game than a game of skill. But we prevailed and can be satisfied with our performance.

Of course, the big difference today was that we fielded a proper striker. If we hadn’t, there is every chance the game would have gone the way of those against Villa and Leeds. He scored a lovely goal.

I’m tempted to say that we will need to play better if we want to get anything out of the Barcelona game on Thursday, but I can guarantee Barcelona won’t play anything like Wolves did. We have a chance.

Nick Pope – 8

Made a couple of vital saves and looked confident throughout.

I’d hazard a guess that he’s been working hard on his distribution; I think I noticed an improvement.

Kieran Trippier – 6

Lots of drive and masses of effort.

Plenty of good moments, but a few poor decisions, and a number of poor passes. A decent game but no more than that.

Fabian Schar – 9

He looks far too handsome to get involved in a physical game but today he was up against a couple of blokes who look like they lay bricks during the week.

He came through with flying colours, closing off many avenues their strikers opened up, and making one exceptional intervention when Wolves looked nailed on to score.

Dan Burn – 7

Wolves had a game plan to expose BDB’s lack of pace and he got caught out a couple of times in the early stages.

But he got to grips with things after a while and ended up pretty much in charge of things.

Tino Livramento – 8

Tino has become one of those players who is always a 8/10 or better.

I’m not sure where he gets his energy from, but he looked like more of a left winger than our left winger, and was usually in the right place defensively.

Bruno Guimaraes – 7

Bruno did a lot of good things and dovetailed well with Sandro Tonali.

As ever, he showed a never-say-die attitude – no wonder Eddie named him captain.

But today he lapsed back into some old habits, dwelling on the ball for too long, and playing some poor passes.

Sandro Tonali – 9

I ran out of superlatives for this man after he’d played ten games for us, so I’ll use some Italian ones: eccezionale, elegante e cool.

Runs all day, always in the right place, and good on the ball.

Reads the game better than just about anyone in football.

Best player on the pitch today and was an inch away from scoring a goal his performance would have deserved.

My Player of the Match.

Joelinton – 6

On this evidence, he is not quite fit after his lay-off, but he still managed to be Joelinton.

A couple of excellent drives into enemy territory, and as ever, combative. Subbed off with Thursday in mind.

Jacob Murphy – 8

Back in the first team, and on this evidence, deservedly so.

Grafted throughout, put the ball into the box time after time, and already looks like he might be developing an understanding with Woltemade redolent of the one he had with Isak.

He had the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed for an earlier offside.

His crowning achievement was a sumptuous cross onto the blond head of our new striker for our goal. Someone said this week that Liverpool have bought a top-of-the-range iPhone in Isak, but forgot to take the charger. It would be funny if they were right.

Nick Woltemade – 9

Imagine you have a girlfriend or boyfriend. You have been together for three years and everything seems to be going well. You are in love. Then one day, they say they want to leave, without ever giving you a reason. You try your best to get them to stay, but they are adamant they want to leave, and refuse to talk to you. Then you find they’ve been chatting up someone else, and you are pretty sure they have been talking to them for months. So they leave and you think you will never get over it.

Then – out of the blue – someone else walks into your life, and it’s love at first sight. You realise your ex is a worthless, cheating, lying rat, and that this new person could be the partner of your dreams.

Today, Newcastle United supporters fell in love with Nick Woltemade.

He has some classy touches, he holds the ball up well, and he scored a beautiful goal. As for their ex – Alex who?

Harvey Barnes – 6

Poorish first half performance, although I thought he should have had a penalty when he was hauled back when in on goal.

Had a better second half – he seems to come alive when he gets into the box.

William Osula – 5

Some fans seem to have written this lad off but I think he is worth persevering with.

Put himself about well when he came on – kept the Wolves defence on their toes.

Joe Willock – 6

Only had half an hour but I thought it was a good thirty minutes.

Looked sharper than he has for a while and injected some energy into a team that was getting a bit of a runaround.

Anthony Elanga – 4

Hardly touched the ball but it must be hard to get into things when the game is 80 minutes old.

Sven Botman N/A (Not on long enough to judge)

No time to make an impression but at least he didn’t pick up an injury.

Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Saturday 13 September 2025 3pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

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 1 Wolves 0 – Woltemade! Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

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)