Neutrals did not enjoy the latest edition of Friday Night Football, but Newcastle United supporters won't have cared as they made their way out of St James' Park last night and sang 'E-I-E-I-E-I-O - Up the Premier League we go!' It is easy to see why; Chris Wood's penalty took the Magpies another step closer to safety following an edgy 1-0 victory against Wolves.
Wood, who had a goal disallowed in the first half, was the coolest man in the stadium on Friday night when he put his penalty straight down the middle to take the roof off St James' in the 72nd minute. Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle spent £25m on Wood last January, but this goal, and his previous header at Southampton, may yet prove priceless in securing the Magpies' Premier League status after Eddie Howe's side moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone. While Wood needs to score more goals, and doubts remain about his long-term prospects as a starter at the club, the 30-year-old's contributions on and off the ball could end up being worth a whole lot more than the hefty fee Newcastle paid for him.
This was not a vintage team performance, of course, but Newcastle did the basics well in the kind of niggly game the black-and-whites might have even lost not so long ago. There were a few nervy moments late on - Martin Dubravka made a brilliant save to keep out Fabio Silva's effort - but, crucially, the Magpies managed to hang on to secure a precious three points.
