Vital safety boost, Rafa cup triumph and comeback…

Vital safety boost, Rafa cup triumph and comeback message - Newcastle's memorable wins over Wolves

A win which all but guaranteed Premier League survival, VAR drama and a 1970s goal rush . . . when Newcastle face Wolves, the fixture rarely fails to entertain.

Eddie Howe's Magpies need to get back to winning ways this weekend following two Premier League defeats either side of the Carabao Cup final loss.

As Julen Lopetegui prepares to bring his men north on Sunday, we look back at five of the most spectacular and crucial games at St James' Park between the Magpies and the men from Molineux.

Newcastle United 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

April 8, 2022 - Premier League

A nervy Newcastle's least celebrated January signing secured a win which put 10 points between them and the bottom three. A pivotal night at a windy St James' Park saw Chris Wood hold his nerve to convert the penalty which saw United halt a worrying run of three straight Premier League defeats.

Wood won the 72nd-minute spot kick - fouled by goalkeeper Jose Sa at the end of a flowing move - and slotted it home to secure a huge victory in Eddie Howe's survival campaign.

Newcastle United 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

September 20, 2016 - League Cup third round

Almost 35,000 saw one of the best goals of the recent era at St James' Park as Rafa Benitez's promotion chasers avenged a surprise home defeat by Wolves just three days earlier. It was a devastating quickfire one-two which saw off the visitors, as Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran struck twice within a couple of minutes just after the half-hour mark.

But while Ritchie's goal was a simple sidefoot finish, Gouffran's was a sensational volley from Ritchie's cross. Preston - and a capacity St James' Park crowd - awaited Newcastle in round four.

Newcastle 4-1 Wolves

April 2, 2011 - Premier League

Newcastle bounced back in style from a four-goal defeat at Stoke a fortnight earlier on a day which saw a much-loved goal celebration. With Joey Barton having one of his best games for United, Kevin Nolan fired them ahead midway through the first half, before Shola Ameobi's header doubled the lead just before half-time.

Peter Lovenkrands slotted in the third early in the second half, before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake pulled one back and Wolves sensed a comeback. But Jonas Gutierrez settled the game with a fine finish, and followed up by donning his Spiderman mask to celebrate.

Victory lifted Alan Pardew's United to ninth in the Premier League but pushed Wolves two points away from safety in 19th.

Newcastle 2-1 Wolves

December 26, 1992 - League Division One

David Kelly showed both sides of his goalscoring ability to earn Kevin Keegan's Newcastle a win which put them 12 points clear at the top of the old Division One. Paul Cook stunned the majority of the 30,137 crowd at St James' Park by putting the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute.

But any fears of a shock home defeat to rival Wolves’ 4-1 win on Tyneside on New Year's Day 1990 were eased when Kelly bundled home a scrappy equaljser from close-range just before half-time. Kelly then fired home a superb strike from 20 yards to put Newcastle ahead midway through the second half, and stretch their lead on Tranmere at the top.

Newcastle United 5-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

September 20, 1975 - Division One

Just 10 days after scoring four goals in a 6-0 League Cup thrashing of Southport, Alan Gowling added a hat-trick as Newcastle moved up to eighth in the old Division One. Tommy Casiidy and John Tudor were United's other scorers, as Steve Daley's goal for Wolves proved only a consolation.

While the defeat set the tone for a season of struggle for the visitors, who were relegated, Gowling went on to score 30 goals in a campaign which saw Newcastle reach the League Cup final.