Newcastle United have maintained their unbeaten start to the season after Allan Saint-Maximin rescued a point against Wolves with a sensational last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Molineux.
Ruben Neves broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 38th minute with a screamer from distance, but Saint-Maximin popped up right at the death with a stunning goal.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
READ MORE: Newcastle vs Wolves highlights
Allan Saint-Maximin responds to Eddie Howe's challenge
Eddie Howe challenged Allan Saint-Maximin to 'bring it' every week after the Frenchman's menacing display for Newcastle against champions Man City last week. Although Saint-Maximin was far from his best on Sunday, the forward duly stepped up when Newcastle needed him the most with his first goal of the season in the 90th minute.
Yes, Hwang Hee-Chan's sliced clearance fell kindly for Saint-Maximin just outside the box, but the 25-year-old still had so much to do as he produced a moment of magic to volley his side level at the death. It did not even look like a chance was even on yet Saint-Maximin was one of the few players on the pitch who possessed the vision and technique to take it on as he scored his first ever Premier League goal from outside the penalty area.
The goal rescued Newcastle a point on an afternoon where the Magpies were far from their best without the influential Bruno Guimaraes, Jonjo Shelvey and Callum Wilson, but kept going to earn a deserved point. Was it any wonder that Eddie Howe and his staff did a jig of delight on the touchline after the ball hit the back of the net?
Newcastle's furious reaction to penalty call
Joe Willock should have done much better a glorious opportunity he poked wide in the 12th minute, but Newcastle were rightly furious not to be awarded a penalty kick just seconds earlier after Sean Longstaff's shirt was blatantly tugged inside the area by debutant Matheus Nunes. The Newcastle analysts sitting behind the press box were aghast, as was assistant manager Jason Tindall on the touchline for that matter, but, remarkably, VAR did not come to Newcastle's rescue. The reason? There was not 'sustained' holding inside the area. In saying that, Fabian Schar was, perhaps, a little fortunate to stay on the field after a stamp on Pedro Neto in the second half, but referee Peter Bankes' decision to brandish a yellow stood.
Bruno Guimaraes is missed as transfer deadline approaches
Newcastle were dealt a huge blow ahead of this game after Bruno Guimaraes picked up a niggle during the week. Newcastle have only lost four matches when Bruno has not been in the starting line-up and that is not a coincidence. The Brazil international is simply the club's talisman.
With Jonjo Shelvey already sidelined, with a hamstring injury, Newcastle were without both of their influential playmakers in the middle of the park and it showed at times. Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock have played 275 Premier League games between them but, in a game where Newcastle had 64% possession, the Magpies lacked the technicians Wolves had like Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho. Bruno also offers so much off the ball with his ability to press and Neves had the second he needed to pick his spot with a screamer from the edge of the area to put Wolves ahead.
There are just a few days until the transfer window shuts and you just wonder whether Newcastle may yet make a late push to sign another midfielder - even on loan. Bruno's injury might not have been serious, but Newcastle are only a lengthy lay-off away from looking very light in the engine room.
Alexander Isak gets quite the reception
Newcastle waited 'right until the last minute' in the hope that Alexander Isak's work permit would come through, but the Sweden international still travelled to Molineux to support his new team-mates and sample a Premier League match day experience for the first time.
Although Isak only joined the club on Friday, the club-record signing is already a firm fans' favourite. The new arrival was given the biggest cheer when he got off the team bus by the Newcastle supporters gathered outside the ground an hour-and-a-half before the game and one fan even had Isak 14 on the back of his shirt.
After taking a look at the pitch, a beaming Isak watched the warm-up from the mouth of the tunnel before taking his place in the stands alongside Jamie Morren, the club's assistant player liaison officer. Judging by the smile on Isak's face at various points, this game will have certainly whetted the appetite before his potential debut against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
This felt a very different visit to last season
There were worse results in the Ashley era - much worse - but rarely were match goers quite so flat as they walked out of Molineux last season. Forget trying to challenge the established order; closing the gap on Wolves felt like a bridge too far for winless Newcastle at the time under Steve Bruce.
There were a brief smattering of boos from the away end at full-time, following a 2-1 defeat, but you could not help but detect the helplessness in the air. Even Steve Bruce admitted after the game that he 'keeps saying the same thing'.
It felt like it was going to take something seismic to change the course of Newcastle's season and indeed the club's future, but no one knew at the time that this would be the final game of the Ashley era. The contrast in mood in the sold out away end could not have been more stark 330 days on as they chanted: 'E-I-E-I-E-I-O Up the Premier League we go When we get to Europe, this is what we'll sing...'
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