Wolves 1-2 Newcastle: Ba & Gutierrez strikes see Alan Pardrew's side continue fine start & move up to third

The game was a frantic affair with both teams attacking throughout, but it was Newcastle who had the better of the first half and grabbed two goals in the process, with Demba Ba and Jonas Gutierrez both on target.

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After the restart, Wolves piled on the pressure to try to work their way back into the match, but a dogged display from the Newcastle defence meant their efforts proved fruitless as the visitors held on well until the end, despite Steven Fletcher grabbing a late concilation strike.

The hosts made just the one change to the side that lost to QPR last weekend, as Dave Edwards dropped to the bench and Steven Fletcher was recalled to partner Kevin Doyle up top.

Newcastle meanwhile sent out an unchanged XI from the one that disposed of Blackburn 3-1, with hat-trick hero Ba retaining his place alongside Leon Best, whilst there was a place on the bench for summer signing Davide Santon.

The action began early after Wolves were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from Tim Krul’s goal, and up stepped Jamie O’Hara to whip in a great effort that forced the Magpies keeper to make a diving save in just the first few moments.

Some slick work from midifelder Yohan Cabaye allowed Ba to release Gutierrez down the left flank, with the winger sprinting into the area and producing a curling effort that drifted just wide of goal.

The Magpies began to threaten Wayne Hennessy’s goal and eventually won a corner on the left-hand side, which Cabaye whipped in towards the front post and found Ba who put Alan Pardew’s side ahead with a free header.

Wolves almost replied instantly as Doyle got through on goal, but his effort was saved sensationally by Krul’s legs and Matt Jarvis was quick to grab the rebound but to no avail as the hosts had to settle for a corner.

Newcastle pushed at Wolves again as the first-half progressed, and with the aid of the home side's amateur defending, doubled their lead as Gutierrez was allowed to enter the area unchecked before switching the ball onto his left and striking into the corner of the net.

Wolves pushed for a goal towards the end of the first half and maybe should have had a penalty after Jarvis seemed to be impeded in the box, but nothing was given as the home fans grew increasingly hostile towards the referee.

The home side came fast out of the blocks in the second half, only for keeper Krul to deny Wolves an equaliser as they battled to get back into the game, amidst some questionable defending from the visitors.

Newcastle were doing well to keep hold of the ball, but Wolves weren’t making it easy for them as they constantly barraged them with pressure, but to no avail as the Magpies kept calm and pushed for a third goal.

Wolves came close after a free-kick made its way into the area and Roger Johnson pulled the ball back across the goal-line, but none of the defender’s team-mates were alert enough to get on the end of the pass.

It took until the depths of the second-half for Wolves to offer something for their fans as Fletcher grabbed a goal from short range to give hope to the home faithful.

A late goal was cancelled out as offside when Adam Hammill thought he’d made it all square, but the flag was raised and Wolves’ late spirit couldn’t give them a share of the spoils.