Newcastle 0 Wolves 2: Rafa Benitez’s promotion bubble bursts as Walter Zenga’s side shock Magpies
Chancel Mbemba own goal and Helder Costa's strike fire Wolves up to 10th whilst Toon drop to third
RAFA BENITEZ warned that there would be days like this.
And just four days after equalling their record away league win, Newcastle were brought to their knees by Wolves at St James’ Park.
And next up for Newcastle? Walter Zenga’s men at home in the EFL Cup third round on Tuesday night.
This was a dreadful Newcastle performance capped by a Chancel Mbemba own goal and a red card for Dutch midfielder Vurnon Anita.
And if players or fans thought promotion would be a stroll after the 6-0 win at QPR, this was the reality check they may have needed.
Newcastle never looked capable of securing a sixth successive league win that would have kept leaders Huddersfield in their sights.
Instead, like Fulham and the Terriers did in the first two games, Wolves inflicted an embarrassing defeat on boss Benitez.
And after starting the day 16th in the Championship, Zenga’s side are now just three points behind third-placed Toon.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson led the celebrations with the Icelandic thunder-clap, which echoed round St James’ Park long after the majority of the Toon Army had abandoned their posts.
By the time Anita was sent off with three minutes remaining, the home seats had emptied.
But the damage was done long before referee Tim Robinson made the ridiculous decision to show the red card for a mistimed but far from malicious tackle on Ivan Cavaleiro.
Newcastle are certain to appeal against a three-match ban for the only outfield ever-present in black and white this season.
An angry Benitez was with his players for nearly an hour after the game and was clearly unhappy with the performance.
He will make changes on Tuesday anyway — another three yesterday, compared with Zenga’s six — but a display like this gives the Spaniard an excuse to wield the axe with venom.
Benitez said: “I was not expecting to start as we started.
“We started to make mistake after mistake — and after the own goal we gave them the opportunity to believe.
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“They were organised and worked hard but we made too many wrong decisions and it is difficult to manage when you have so many things wrong.
“The good thing when you have another game so quickly is you can try to do things the way they were before.
“We are not very happy now and will have to concentrate on the next game and perform.”
Wolves were gifted the lead in the 29th minute when Mbemba sliced Bodvarsson’s centre beyond keeper Matz Sels, who could easily have conceded four or five in another forgettable display.
Bodvarsson had already clattered the crossbar and seen two efforts blocked in a lively opening from the visitors.
Newcastle’s response to the opener was a disappointing combination of wayward long passes and even more uncontrollable long-range shooting.
Jonjo Shelvey, the master of Loftus Road, was guilty of a string of pointless shots from distance which Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme could watch with disdain.
Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle and Isaac Hayden fared little better.
Ikeme had to deal with only three shots on target and saved brilliantly to deny Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
While Newcastle struggled to make any breakthrough, Wolves added a second goal in the 62nd minute when Helder Costa was allowed to skip past two men before lobbing a left-foot shot out of Sels’ reach.
Zenga may have ignored calls from the travelling support to give them a wave but he clearly enjoyed both goals and those after-match celebrations, laying a kiss on the turf before departing.
The Italian said: “I am delighted.
“I got the answer I wanted from the team to show the last 15 minutes of Tuesday’s defeat to Barnsley was an accident.
“The players wanted to show the reaction themselves because it was a shock for everybody.
“The spirit of the team and how they played was a big answer to everybody.”