Newcastlevs.Wolves

Vitor Pereira has made an encouraging start to life at Molineux, recording three wins, one draw and one defeat from his opening five matches in all competitions.

However, the West Midlands outfit make the trip to St James' Park sitting in 17th position in the Premier League table, only outside of the relegation zone by one goal.

Wolves will be going up against a Newcastle side that have recorded eight successive victories in all competitions, a run that has catapulted the Magpies into contention for Champions League qualification and domestic silverware.

As daunting as the task in hand already is, Wolves have an opportunity to extend a remarkable streak that has lasted 119 years.

What streak is on the line?

Not since 1906 have Newcastle managed to record a league double over Wolves, a campaign where the North-East outfit prevailed in the home fixture by an 8-0 scoreline.

Wolves will hope that history does not repeat itself on this occasion, yet they have failed to clean sheet in all nine of their previous Premier League encounters at St James' Park.

While 11 of the 19 Premier League games between these sides have ended in draws, which is a divisional record in terms of percentage with a minimum of 15 matches played, Wolves are on a three-game losing streak.

Furthermore, Wolves have only won one of their last 12 Premier League fixtures against Newcastle, that coming back on October 2, 2021.

They have also emerged victorious in just two of their last 16 away fixtures in England's top flight, albeit those occurring against Fulham and Leicester City in recent months.

First goal the key?

Newcastle are yet to lose when scoring the first goal in a game this season, that occurring on nine occasions in the Premier League with seven wins and two draws being posted.

Alexander Isak is bidding to join an illustrious group of players that have scored in eight successive Premier League games, with Jamie Vardy, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Daniel Sturridge the only players to achieve such a feat.

At a time when Wolves possess the second-worst away defensive record in the Premier League this season with 22 goals being conceded in 10 games, Newcastle's eight conceded in nine home matches is the joint-third best.

Written by

Darren Plant