The Magpies beat Wolves 2-0 in the Premier League 2 and, after the game, suggested they weren’t particularly troubled by their opponents.
Newcastle United Under-23s coach Ben Dawson praised his charges for their 2-0 win over Premier League 2 Division 2 leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Dawson thinks that the game was comfortable in the end and Wolves never truly threatened the Magpies for much of the game despite having a fair bit of possession.
Newcastle began brightly, Tyrique Bartlett scoring after just 40 seconds before Cam John’s own goal doubled Newcastle’s advantage before seven minutes had passed.
Bartlett, the son of Charlton Athletic and South Africa legend Shaun Bartlett, got on the end of a Rosaire Longelo cross and to rifle home beyond the reach of goalkeeper Andreas Sondergaard.
Wanderers defender John then diverted an Ollie Walters cross into his own net from inside the six-yard box to put Dawson’s side firmly in the advantage and despite some probing opposition forays, a disciplined defensive display kept Wolves at bay.
The victory, achieved with several academy stars away on international duty, sends the Tyneside outfit into third place in the Division 2 table, with a playoff spot very much a possibility, and just three points behind the league leaders.
“We asked (the players) to rise to the occasion which we generally do,” Dawson told the official Newcastle website. “We have a good group who thrive on those big games and it was an opportunity for some to stand out against a team who are top of the league.
“As much as they had a lot of the ball, I don’t think Wolves really threatened or got behind our team. Once we sorted a few issues out at half-time, I thought it was quite comfortable in the end.”
Prior to their clash with Wolves, United suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, while up next, attention turns to a Premier League Cup quarter-final meeting against Derby County.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
