NEWCASTLE 2 WOLVES 2
NEWCASTLE: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ryan Taylor (Guthrie 65), Cabaye, Tiote (Shola Ameobi 80), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (Ben Arfa 65).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Perch, Obertan, Ferguson.
WOLVES: Hennessey, Zubar, Berra, Stearman, Ward, Foley (Milijas 90), Henry, Edwards, O'Hara (Kightly 70), Jarvis (Hunt 85), Doyle.
Subs Not Used: De Vries, Craddock, Ebanks-Blake, Johnson.
Att: 52, 287
Alan Pardew can call his defenders for sloppy work, but the manager lost the plot with his system in the second half of this fixture that should have been three points in the bag.
The formation looked like a rabbit's hind leg, as he struggled to get United back on track after a blistering start and a high-level collapse.
Kevin Doyle handed caretaker boss Terry Connor a point in his first game as Wolves pulled off an unlikely comeback at St James' Park.
The visitors, who sacked Mick McCarthy in the wake of the derby drubbing by West Brom, looked dead and buried after Papiss Cisse and then Jonas Gutierrez had fired the Magpies into a 2-0 lead with just 18 minutes played.
However, in front of the disbelieving eyes of a crowd of 52,287, the avalanche failed to materialise and after Matt Jarvis had dragged the visitors back into the game five minutes into the second half, Doyle struck with 66 minutes gone to snatch a draw which dented the home side's hopes of putting pressure on the Barclays Premier League's top four.
Both sides had conceded five times in their previous game, but for 45 minutes, only one looked likely to repeat that feat on Saturday afternoon as the visitors' disappointing return in front of goal and inability to deny the opposition at the other end returned to haunt them.
In truth, Wolves enjoyed as much of the possession as their hosts, but where they huffed and puffed without ever really troubling keep Tim Krul, Newcastle managed to expose opposite number Wayne Hennessey almost at will, and beat him twice within the opening 18 minutes.
The Wales international found himself in the thick of the action almost from the off, although his side contributed to their own downfall as the first goal arrived with just six minutes played.
Yohan Cabaye, back from his three-match suspension to partner Cheick Tiote in his first appearance since the beginning of last month, caught Christophe Berra in possession and crossed for Demba Ba to audaciously back-heel a shot towards goal.
Hennessey pulled off a fine save to deny the Senegal international, but after the ball was scrambled clear, Tiote returned it with interest and Cisse turned his shot home.
The keeper kept Newcastle at bay with 17 minutes gone when he tipped Danny Simpson's searing drive over the bar, but he was beaten again within seconds.
Doyle's clearing header dropped to Gutierrez 25 yards out, and the Argentinian took a controlling touch before rifling a shot into the top corner.
For all that they had been plunged into a seemingly hopeless position, the visitors continued to pass the ball confidently with Jarvis down the left and right-back Ronald Zubar causing problems.
However, they were able to create little of note, along Krul did have to come quickly from his line to prevent Jarvis from picking up the pieces after Doyle's 36th-minute effort had been blocked.
Cisse had earlier flicked a header wide and Stephen Ward, who needed extensive treatment after being caught in a challenge with Ryan Taylor, covered superbly to block the same man's shot in front of goal with three minutes of the first half remaining.
But as the players left the pitch at half-time, there was cause for optimism in only one of the dressing rooms.
However, the mood changed markedly within five minutes of the restart as Wolves were granted a slice of the sort of good fortune which has eluded them for much of the season to date.
Jarvis cut inside from the left and fired in a shot which clipped full-back Simpson and looped high over Krul and into the net.
Cabaye dragged a shot just wide from 20 yards three minutes later, but Wanderers sensed an opportunity and might have been level with 54 minutes gone had Doyle managed to get a touch to Jamie O'Hara's cross as he dived in.
Newcastle's response was tepid to leave manager Alan Pardew a concerned man inside his technical area, and his mood will not have been improved by the sight of full-back Ward cutting inside to test Krul with a skidding shot which glanced off Tiote on its way to goal on the hour.
Cabaye and Ba failed to make the most of a 62nd-minute counter-attack with Newcastle looking increasingly disjointed, and Pardew immediately instructed Hatem Ben Arfa to warm up.
Ben Arfa and Danny Guthrie duly arrived in place of the limping Cisse and Taylor, but Wolves were level within seconds of their introduction.
Mike Williamson headed O'Hara's free-kick straight at Doyle, who reacted first to the rebound to poke the ball into the bottom corner.
In a frantic conclusion, it was Newcastle who could not rediscover their cutting edge with Wolves seeing out time under pressure, but with little genuine difficulty with Ben Arfa going close, but not close enough, twice in a frustrating finish to the game.
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHOWDOWN ...
Four teams fighting for that fourth place
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Sunderland (H), Arsenal (A), Norwich (H), West Brom (A), Liverpool(H), Swansea (A), Bolton (H), Chelsea (A), Stoke (H), Wigan (A), Man City (H), Everton (A)
ARSENAL
Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H), Aston Villa (H), QPR (A), Man City (H), Wolves (A), Wigan (H), Everton (A), Chelsea (H), Stoke (A), Norwich (H), West Brom (A)
CHELSEA
West Brom (A), Stoke (H), Man City (A), Tottenham (H), Aston Villa (A), Wigan (H), Fulham (A), Newcastle (H), Arsenal (A), QPR (H), Liverpool (A), Blackburn (H)
LIVERPOOL
Everton (H), Arsenal (H), Sunderland (A), Wigan (H), QPR (A), Newcastle (A), Aston Villa (H), Blackburn (A), Fulham (H), West Brom (H), Norwich (A), Chelsea (H), Swansea (A)
PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES
Saturday 03rd March 2012
Liverpool v Arsenal 12:45
Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa 15:00
Manchester City v Bolton Wanderers 15:00
Queens Park Rangers v Everton 15:00
Stoke City v Norwich City 15:00
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea 15:00
Wigan Athletic v Swansea City 15:00
Sunday 04th March 2012
Newcastle United v Sunderland 12:00
Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers 14:05
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United 16:10
NEWCASTLE UNITED 20011/12
PREMIER LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE 2 WOLVES 2 (Cisse, Gutierrez)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ryan Taylor (Guthrie 65), Cabaye, Tiote (Shola Ameobi 80), Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (Ben Arfa 65).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Perch, Obertan, Ferguson.
SPURS 5 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (Ferguson 46), Guthrie (Lovenkrands 86), Perch, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse (Gosling 68).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Abeid, Shola Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 2 ASTON VILLA 1 (Ba, Cisse)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ryan Taylor (Obertan 33), Guthrie, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba (Shola Ameobi 90), Best (Cisse 14).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Gosling, Ferguson.
BLACKBURN 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Dann og, Obertan)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ben Arfa (Perch 46), Guthrie, Ryan Taylor (Obertan 89), Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 77), Shola Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Gosling, Ferguson.
FULHAM 5 NEWCASTLE 2 (Guthrie, Ben Arfa)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Guthrie (Perch 76), Cabaye (Gosling 83), Gutierrez, Best (Ryan Taylor 86), Shola Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Obertan, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (Best)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ryan Taylor (Gosling 81), Guthrie, Cabaye (Ben Arfa 25), Gutierrez, Best (Perch 76), Shola Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Obertan, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 3 MAN UTD 0 (Ba, Cabaye, Jones og)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ryan Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye (Perch 77), Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi (Best 75), Ba (Obertan 89).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic.
LIVERPOOL 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Agger og)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor (Santon 46), Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 84), Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Vuckic (Ben Arfa 65), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Perch, Best, Shola Ameobi.
BOLTON 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfa, Ba)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Shola Ameobi 84), Cabaye (Perch 88), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Best (Ben Arfa 61).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 2 WEST BROM 3 (Ba 2)
Krul, Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon (Ryan Taylor 46), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 72), Vuckic, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 61), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Williamson, Abeid, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 0 SWANSEA CITY 0
Krul, Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 82), Cabaye, Tiote (Vuckic 82), Gutierrez, Best (Shola Ameobi 71), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Ben Arfa, Abeid.
NORWICH 4 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba 2)
Krul, Santon (Ferguson 90), Simpson, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 80), Cabaye, Gosling, Gutierrez, Ba, Shola Ameobi (Smith 90).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Best.
NEWCASTLE 0 CHELSEA 3
Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini (Perch 27), R Taylor, Lovenkrands (Sammy Ameobi 71), Guthrie, Cabaye, Obertan, Ben Arfa (Shola Ameobi 46), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Santon, Gosling, Best.
MAN UTD 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ba pen)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 65), Cabaye, Guthrie (Perch 74), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 80), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Gosling, Shola Ameobi.
MAN CITY 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gosling)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 76), Guthrie, Cabaye (Perch 85), Gutierrez, Ba, Sammy Ameobi (Gosling 79).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Smith, Shola Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 2 EVERTON 1 (Heitinga og, R Taylor)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Marveaux (Sammy Ameobi 54), Cabaye (Gosling 37), Guthrie, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 73), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Lovenkrands, Perch.
STOKE 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Barr 3)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Guthrie (Gosling 90), Cabaye (Perch 78), Gutierrez, Best (Sammy Ameobi 86), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Ben Arfa, Marveaux.
NEWCASTLE 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 (Cabaye)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 76), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 46), Ba (Shola Ameobi 68).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Santon, Perch, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 2 SPURS 2 (Ba, Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson (Santon 77), Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Shola Ameobi 71), Ba (Ben Arfa 71).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Gosling, Marveaux.
WOLVES 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ba, Gutierrez)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 90), Cabaye (Guthrie 89), Tiote, Gutierrez, Best, Ba (Lovenkrands 71).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi.
NEWCASTLE 3 BLACKBURN 1 (Ba 3)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Marveaux 84), Ba (Ben Arfa 74), Best.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch, Sammy Ameobi.
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Best)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez (Sammy Ameobi 85), Best (Shola Ameobi 69), Ba (Marveaux 80).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.
QPR 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 88), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Marveaux 82), Shola Ameobi (Ba 64).
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Santon, Guthrie, Lovenkrands.
NEWCASTLE 2 FULHAM 1 (Best 2)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands (Ba 62), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Obertan, Best (Vuckic 78), Vuckic (Smith 85).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (R Taylor)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye (Williamson 85), Barton, Obertan (Gosling 85), Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Lovenkrands, Ba, Best, Marveaux.
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 0
Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Simpson, Barton, Cabaye (Lovenkrands 81), Tiote, Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi (Best 73), Ba (Obertan 46).
Subs Not Used: Forster, Williamson, Gosling, Sammy Ameobi.
FA CUP
BRIGHTON 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Simpson, Perch, Williamson, Santon (Ferguson 83), Guthrie (Gosling 83), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Ryan Taylor 83), Shola Ameobi, Best.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Lovenkrands, Obertan, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 2 BLACKBURN 1 (Ben Arfa, Gutierrez)
Krul, Simpson (Ryan Taylor 60), Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Obertan (Shola Ameobi 56), Abeid (Gosling 87), Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Best.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Perch, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic.
CARLING CUP
BLACKBURN 4 NEWCASTLE 3 (AET) Guthrie, Cabaye, Lovenkrands (pen)
Krul, Simpson (Sammy Ameobi 70), Perch, Coloccini, Santon, Marveaux (Obertan 77), Guthrie, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa (Lovenkrands 79), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Abeid, Gosling, Ranger.
NOTTINGHAM FOR. 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (AET) Lovenkrands 2, Simpson, Coloccini
Elliot, Simpson, Coloccini, Perch, Ferguson, Abeid, Guthrie, Gosling (Shola Ameobi 70), Marveaux, Ben Arfa (Sammy Ameobi 70), Lovenkrands (Obertan 80).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Best, Dummett, Henderson.
SCUNTHORPE 1 NEWCASTLE 2 AET (R Taylor, Sammy Ameobi)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson (Steven Taylor 45), Ryan Taylor, Marveaux, Gosling (Vuckic 70), Cabaye, Lovenkrands, Best, Ba (Sammy Ameobi 65).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Abeid, Smith, Ferguson.
PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
NEWCASTLE 0 FIORENTINA 0 (Ab 63 mins)
Krul (Forster 46), Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique, Gosling (Ba 46), Cabaye, Vuckic, Jonas (Marveaux 46) Lovenkrands (R Taylor 61), Best (Shola Ameobi 46).Subs: Sammy Ameobi, Ranger, Tavernier, Williamson.
LEEDS UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (S.Taylor, Vuckic)
Forster, Cabaye, Williamson, Barton, Simpson, Gosling, Gutierrez, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Taylor, Tavernier. Subs: Krul, Taylor, Best, Vuckic, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett.
COLUMBUS CREW 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ameobi, Coloccini, Vuckic)
Harper; Tavernier, S Taylor, Coloccini (Dummett, 54), Enrique; Gutierrez (Abeid, 85), Tiote (Smith, 62), Gosling, Marveaux (Vuckic, 76); Ameobi (Best, 75), Ba. Subs not used: Forster, Krul.
ORLANDO CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Forster; R Taylor (Enrique, 26), S Taylor, Coloccini, Tavernier; Gosling (Vuckic, 71), Smith (Abeid, 74), Tiote, Gutierrez; Best (Ba, 74), Lovenkrands (Ameobi, 74). Subs not used: Krul, Harper.
SPORTING KANSAS 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Gosling, Coloccini, S Taylor, R Taylor, Marveaux (Tavernier 46), Tiote (Abeid 46), Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Ba (Best 72), Lovenkrands (Smith 46).
DARLINGTON 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Barton, Sammy Ameobi)
Forster; Simpson (Dummett), S Taylor (Tavernier), Williamson (Henderson), Ferguson (R Taylor); Barton (Abeid), Guthrie (Cabaye, Donaldson), Smith (Gosling), Vuckic (Sammy Ameobi); Ben Arfa (Richardson), Best (Ranger). Subs not used: Soderberg, Newton.