Allan Saint-Maximin picked the perfect moment to end his goal drought and maintain Newcastle ’s unbeaten start.
Eddie Howe’s side were heading for their first Premier League loss when Saint-Maximin popped up with just 32 seconds left of normal time to equalise with a stunning volley. Incredibly for the talented Frenchman, it was his first Newcastle goal since January 15, and boy did the Toon Army enjoy it.
Suddenly Newcastle came to life after a disappointing 90 minutes and nearly snatched victory in injury time when they hit the bar and Fabian Schar fired a free-kick just wide.
"We work hard in training, I try to put more things in my game and I practice a lot with the trainer to help me hit that volley," said Saint-Maximin. "I am really happy to score that goal because it was important for us to draw or try to win the game.
"I don't think about myself, I just think about my team - I am really happy to draw the game. I have a lot of people around me to kick me and put me out of the game, so I am very happy to score. I am really proud to be part of that team."
Eddie Howe said: "There is a massive importance to every game, we were determined to keep our unbeaten start going - the players gave everything and never gave up, it was a great goal from Allan [Saint-Maximin] at the end.
"We chased the game very well, Wolves are a genuine counter-attacking threat, we had to control that and we were very effective in the second half. Eventually that paid off and I thought we deserved it."
On Saint-Maximin's wonder goal, the Toon boss admitted: "I wasn't sure what he was going to do - it is a truly incredible finish, technically to control that and keep it down."
Defeat would have been harsh on Wolves and they were the better team for large parts before Saint-Maximin produced his moment of magic.
They defended resolutely and took the lead through an absolute worldie of a strike from the excellent Ruben Neves. Their winless run in the Premier League is now 11 games, dating back to April 2, and they remain next to bottom, but there were several positives from this display.
Newcastle were off colour in their unfamiliar green and white Saudi kit and looked unrecognisable from the side, which went toe-to-toe with Manchester City in last Sunday’s pulsating draw. They were not helped at a raucous Molineux by the double blow of losing Bruno Guimaraes and new record £60million signing Alexander Isak. Guimaraes was injured, while Isak had to watch frustrated from the stands because his work permit has yet to come through.
The visitors had more chances and possession, but failed to turn these advantages into a goal and will be hoping Isak can make a difference. They fluffed a great chance to open the scoring when the ball fell to Joe Willock in front of goal after it had ricocheted around the Wolves box only for the Toon midfielder to poke it wide.
Wolves were also wasteful and new boy Matheus Nunes headed wide and Pedro Neto shot over before Neves showed everyone how to finish. Gonçalo Guedes teed up Neves 25 yards out and the Wolves skipper let rip with a right-foot rocket, which gave Nick Pope no chance, and 16 of his 25 goals for the club from come from outside the box.
It was Wolves’ first top-flight goal in 302 minutes of Premier League action since Daniel Podence’s effort in their opening game at Leeds.
Jose Sa comfortably saved a 20-yard effort from Saint-Maximin and Newcastle did not do enough to threaten the Wolves goal.
Wolves had a second, which would have sealed their win, chalked off nine minutes from time when referee Peter Bankes reviewed it on the pitchside monitor and rightly ruled Neto fouled Ryan Fraser before setting up Raul Jimenez to score.
That looked like it would be it until Hwang Hee-Chan could only hook the ball to just outside his own box where the lurking Saint-Maximin smashed it home.
That 90th-minute wonder strike fired up Newcastle and they almost grabbed a winner when Neves and Jimenez combined to knock the ball against their own bar.
They did not deserve more and point continues their best start to a Premier League campaign since 2011.
