Newcastle were beaten 2-0 by Wolves, ending their run of victories.
Having beaten QPR 6-0 during the week, Newcastle came crashing back down to earth as they were beaten 2-0 at home to Wolves.
The visitors took the lead in the 29th minute after Chancel Mbemba put through his own net. Walter Zenga’s side went 2-0 up just after the hour mark, when an error by Ayoze Perez allowed Wander Helder Costa to wrap things up for Wolves. Things got more miserable for the Magpies when Vurnon Anita was shown a straight red in the 87th minute.
Rafael Benitez’s side have been in incredible form, but it will be interesting to see whether or not this result will stop their momentum.
Here are five things we learned from Newcastle’s defeat to Wolves.
Benitez will sometimes get it wrong
Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benitez
The Spaniard is notorious for his rotation policy, and that has been clear to see throughout the opening stages of the Championship season.
Benitez made three changes to his side today, recalling Dwight Gayle and Mohamed Diame, as well as bringing back Chancel Mbemba, who missed the QPR game through injury.
None of those players shone, with Diame the most abject. Aleksandar Mitrovic made a great return to the side in midweek, and should have kept his place. The arrival of Diame pushed Perez out wide, which was a huge mistake. The Spanish forward does not have the strength to play on the wing.
Rafa may be Newcastle’s saviour, but he will get things wrong on occasions.
Matt Ritchie needs to keep his cool
Brighton’s Gaetan Bong (L) in action with Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie
Matt Ritchie picked up a cheap booking after 51 minutes. The winger then committed another risky foul 10 minutes later, which quite easily have seen him given a second yellow and sent for an early bath.
Benitez made the right call to take him off before he was sent off, but the substitute hindered Newcastle’s threat going forward.
Ritchie has picked up his fair share of bookings in his short Newcastle career, and needs to start controlling his temper as he is one of the Magpies’ key players.
Diame is not a number 10
Newcastle United’s Mohamed Diame receives a yellow card from Tim Robinson
It was another stinker of a performance from Mo Diame. Yet again he was deployed just behind striker Dwight Gayle, but he failed to offer his side anything as the game totally passed him by.
Diame constantly lost possession, either misplacing a pass or being tackled by a high intensity Wolves side. Somehow the 29-year-old was not withdrawn by Benitez, and was instead dropped deeper into midfield when Aleksandar Mitrovic arrived.
The changed didn’t help Diame, who was still slow in possession, needing too many touches on the ball before he moved it on and more often than not, found an orange shirt instead of a black and white one.
Newcastle need to learn how to come from behind
Newcastle United’s Matz Sels looks dejected after the match
In the three games that Newcastle have lost this season, at no point did it look like they were capable of mounting a comeback.
The Magpies are certainly a scalp for most teams, meaning that sides will defend any lead they’ve got to gain a victory over Newcastle. Benitez’s men need to find a way around this and become cleverer in their attack, moving the ball more sharply to break down stubborn defences.
Newcastle failed to create many chances against Wolves, and it begs the question whether or not they are capable of coming from behind to win.
There is no home for Ayoze Perez in the Championship
Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez looks dejected
It’s been a rough start to the season for Ayoze Perez, although he gave his best performance in midweek at Loftus Road, where he scored his first league goal.
Today he was playing out on the left, where he was lost. In the second half he moved over to the right when Christian Atsu came on, and he was equally as lost.
The Spaniard simply isn’t tough enough for this league. He is constantly bullied off the ball, and his dawdling in possession cost his side a goal. It may be too early to judge Perez’s Championship credentials, but so far he has shown nothing to suggest that he will be a star in the division.
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