REPORT: ISAK ON FIRE AS NEWCASTLE CLIMB INTO TOP FOUR
Alexander Isak scored in his eighth Premier League game on the spin as Newcastle United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 at St James’ Park to move up to fourth in the division.
The Swedish forward opened the scoring in the first half, as his strike from the edge of the box found the bottom corner via a huge deflection off Wolves’ Premier League debutant Emmanuel Agbadou.
There was less luck involved in his second, slotting home past Jose Sa after being found in acres of space in the penalty area by a clever through-ball from Bruno Guimaraes after the interval.
The 25-year-old turned provider as he teed up Anthony Gordon to add a third following a swift counter-attack from the hosts.
Wolves had several chances to get on the scoresheet, with Jorgen Strand-Larsen striking the woodwork in each half, while VAR denied them a consolation at 3-0 when Hugo Bueno was judged to have handled the ball before prodding home from a corner.
Matheus Cunha was only introduced to the game at half-time following his two-match suspension, but was at the heart of everything positive for Vitor Pereira’s men in the second period.
Discussing Newcastle’s performance, manager Eddie Howe told TNT Sports: “Very pleased, I thought we had to keep going today.
“I thought Wolves played well. It’s always difficult against a back five when they defend as deep as they did in that first half to break them down, so we had to be patient today.”
On Isak’s first goal, he said: “I think the first goal was key today.
“He’s got that freedom and then he’s a really good dribbler, so these moments – we encourage him to get on the ball as much as he can.
“He’s got a bit of luck with the deflection but he probably deserves it in the end.”
Discussing the second goal, he said: “That’s why he’s such a good player, because that looks an easy finish – he makes it look easy, but it’s absolutely not because you might get one of those in a game and you’ve got to take it; we need him to take it.
“But he’s got that calmness and that coolness which all the top players have.”
