Wolves may have done Liverpool a favour by forcing a draw at Newcastle, but this was about pride and -as always money. The 18th placed team gets a cool £1 million more than the team placed 20th and this result gives Wolves a perfect chance to claim that prize. With Wolves knowing that they now only need a better final day result against Tottenham than Leeds can get against Chelsea or Leicester against Arsenal. Mind you this is Wolves....

You might be forgiven for forgetting that this result finally sees Wolves relegated (statistically), given the carnival atmosphere amongst the fans and the media's concentration on the effect at the top of the table. But in recent weeks we've seen some signs that maybe D. Jones is getting some things right, so maybe there's some hope for Wolves in the division from hell. But that may depend as much on the number of Senegal flags at the game against Tottenham (and their effect on a certain Mr Camara) as it does on the manager's ability to buy some decent full backs.

For Wolves this was the last chance to grab an away win. Newcastle's home form was good, but they were injury-hit and had lost in Europe mid-week. AND our recent form against them was good.

Wolves started brightly and given the atmosphere of the opposing sets of fans you would think that Wolves were going for a European place and that Newcastle were going to get relegated. Its all about managing expectations....

On 6 minutes Newcastle had the first real attempt at goal when Ambrose crossed from an over-hit Robert corner and Shearer headed wide. Then Wolves nearly grabbed the opener. A quick release of the ball by Jones and a neat interchange of passes between Kennedy and Cameron saw Kennedy send in a dangerous cross which Bramble - with Cort waiting just behind - sent just over his own bar. Shearer easily cleared the resulting corner.

Robert then had a shot saved by Jones before Speed spurned the perfect opportunity to put the Magpies ahead. Ambrose left Naylor for dead and squared the ball back for Speed but he sent his shot crashing into the side-netting. Naylor was injured in this Newcastle attack and was eventually substituted some ten minutes later, with Kennedy dropping back into the full back position and Rae coming into the midfield.

On 20 minutes a Kennedy cross was eventually sent goalwards by Camara but Given saved. It was end to end stuff and Kennedy had a shot blocked by Bowyer before Jones saved another Robert shot and Speed headed a corner wide.

Newcastle began to dominate and got the opener on 37 minutes when Ameobi sped down the right flank and crossed for the in-coming Bowyer who lifted the ball over Jones Newcastle 1 Wolves 0.

Wolves were under the cosh and Newcastle nearly made it two when an Ameobi sot hit the post and Shearer's follow-up was cleared by Kennedy.

Half time Newcastle 1 Wolves 0

Wolves switched formation at half time with Irwin switching to left back and Newton dropping back into a right back position, releasing the rejuvenated Kennedy to a more attacking role. It seemed to work and Wolves started the second half more brightly. Camara headed into the side netting and a Rae free kick was deflected wide.

The mounting pressure finally paid off when Wolves grabbed the equaliser on 70 minutes. Kennedy's was miscontrolled by Bramble and Celtic's enemy no. 1, Ganea, swivelled and fired into the net Newcastle 1 Wolves 1. Cort had stepped back over the goal-line to be in an on-side position (i.e. off the pitch) when Ganea struck.

Although Given saved well from Ganea, the game had become scrappy and naughty-boy Bowyer was booked for diving. Unfortunately the ref didn't spot Speed's high-dive later when he gave Newcastle a penalty life-line, for Ince's alleged push.

So it looked like Wolves had thrown it away again as Shearer stepped up to the spot and sent in a decent penalty. But Paul Jones had other ideas, and he pulled off a brilliant save. Could Paul Jones' allegiance to Liverpool have something to do with that, and the other fine saves that he made during this match?

In any case Wolves withstood the Newcastle pressure and held out for a deserved draw. So Wolves were officially relegated to play in the Coca Cola league next season, but hopefully keeping the nucleus of the squad that has performed so well of late. Of all the "What Ifs" the one that is most relevant to me is, why couldn't the team have played like this over the Easter period?

Although people concentrate on our very poor start to the season, I think that it was really the poor run which started with our defeat against Villa that effectively killed our season. Lets hope we at least finish above Leeds and Leicester, to give ourselves the maximum possible money to play with next season. Top of the shopping list must be some full backs surely...

Full time Newcastle 1 Wolves 1