This was one of those matches where, come the end of the season, we might well be saying “if only we could have beaten Newcastle at home”. Despite conceding much of the possession, Wolves had quite a few chances to win this game, and may well come to rue those missed chances.

The game was a proverbial one of two halves, the first half being open and entertaining, but the second half a much more dour and gritty one. Wolves’ offside trap worked well and defensively Wolves looked pretty solid, albeit against a side who had played a “bruising encounter” only two days previous.

As the teams came out onto the pitch an horrific accident saw one of the pre-match fireworks shoot off into the family enclosure, apparently hitting a woman and breaking her cheek bone. A more cynical person than me might point out that this seems to sum up the mismanagement (or bad luck) at Wolves this season. Fair play to Jez Moxey, though, for immediately saying that there won’t be any more fireworks at Molineux while he’s there.

Newcastle kicked off in a strange-looking kit – basically their usual kit but with white shorts. Straight off Newcastle demonstrated that they were up for a bit of revenge for the 3-2 loss last season in the cup – forcing a couple a free kicks on the edge of the box. But Wolves were up for it as well and at the other end an over-hit corner was lobbed back in by Craddock, and it was just nicked over the in-rushing Camara. The following corner was also hit too long but it fell kindly for Andrews near the angle of the box – unfortunately he let it slip through his legs for a Newcastle throw-in.

Gudjonsson was having a good game. He robbed Dyer in Wolves half, and set Camara free down the left wing. Camara “pinned back his ears” and ran past Woodgate, but the Newcastle defender just managed to nick it off his toe before he shot.

After the opening five minutes it had been all Wolves pressure, but Newcastle and Shearer offered a wake-up call on 15 minutes. Hughes ran into the Wolves box and brilliantly chipped the ball to Shearer, whose snapshot smashed off the bar before being scrambled away.

Rae was also having a good game but his over-elaborate back-heel put Naylor in trouble. The resulting free kick was played long and Bramble at the back post wasted a good opportunity by putting his free header wide. At the other end a floated-in free kick fell to Craddock, but his acrobatic overhead kick went just wide.

Then came the breakthrough for Wolves. A speculative long ball/clearance by Rae fell to Woodgate who fluffed it. Blake went running after it and Given - who was shockingly far off his line – had the ball nicked off him by Blake. So there was Blake, with the goalie beaten with just one defender between him and the goal. Blake took it on into the area, and with a second defender breathing down his neck he finally – after what seemed a lifetime – slotted the ball home. Wolves 1 Newcastle 0

Wolves nearly made it two-nil when a Kennedy cross/through ball nearly found Camara, but it was snatched off his foot by Given. Immediately after, at the other end of the pitch, Shearer latched onto a relatively simple through ball - beating the offside trap for the first time and slotted the ball home Wolves 1 Newcastle 1

The game then went into a lull period until 5 minutes before the end. The referee (who had a very poor game) made a decision - or more properly failed to make a decision - which could well have tipped the game in Wolves favour. A long ball through fell kindly for Blake who beat two defenders and was running through into the area when he was wrestled to the ground by a Bramble. At first it looked like a clear penalty, but TV replays later made it clear that it happend outside the box. But at the least Bramble should have been sent off and Wolves should have had a free kick. Neither the ref or the linesman gave it.

Then on the stroke of half time came a clear cut chance for Wolves. Kennedy picked up a loose ball attacked the Newcastle defence and fooled them all into thinking that he was going set Blake clear. Instead he brilliantly cut the ball inside to where Gudjonsson was running to - unmarked and with only Given to beat. Gudjonsson controlled the ball well, but then shot just wide of the post. Immensely disappointing, but I have to admit Gudjonsson was having the best game I've seen him have for Wolves, so I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on him.

Half Time Wolves 1 Newcastle 1

In the second half the wind was in Newcastle's favour so more of the play was in Wolves half. But Wolves back four held firm. In fact it was Wolves who had the first chance to win the match in the second half . From a Gudjonsson pass Blake did a great turn on the edge of the Newcastle area and fired in a cross/shot that Given punched out and ping-ponged in the area before being cleared.

Newcastle had a couple of chances, first when Dyer sprinted through the offside trap onto a hopefull punt, but Oakes came off his line well and punched clear. Then Lua-Lua, being his unpredictable self, beat Irwin and then fired a shot straight at Oakes who fumbled but then saved.

With 20 minuteds to go a Camara shot was blocked and came out to Rae who took the ball to the edge of the Newcastle box on the right side. He floated in a great cross but Blake headed over. Soon after Camara burst through but Rae fell over and couldn't get onto the end of his superb cross which went across the face of the Newcastle goal.

There was a scare for Wolves when Lua-Lua was clear through, but he tried to be too clever and took too long allowing Wolves defenders back in enough numbers to get it clear.

On 80 minutes Gudjonsson sent an excellent free kick thumping off the outside of the Newcastle post. Then at the other end Craddock cleared a dangerous-looking Newcastle cross with an unconventional diving header. It was unconventional in that he used his hand, but luckily for us it was missed by the ref, who was having a shocker, as they say.

There was still chance for Camara to hit the bar with a looping header, after a long ball was sent in by Rae.

Overall this was a good Wolves performance that we need to build on, especially as all the teams around us won. Kennedy had a good game when he was switched to the left wing, Camara was back to his best and Gudjonsson had a good game. The back four looked solid again and we did create plenty of chances. The only negative is that we - yet again - failed to put those chances away.

Full Time Wolves 1 Newcastle 1