Isak helps Newcastle beat Wolves for ninth straight win

Alexander Isak has now scored 15 Premier League goals this season

Alexander Isak continued his superb form with two goals and an assist as Newcastle equalled their club record of nine straight wins in all competitions with victory over Wolves.

The Sweden striker opened the scoring with a shot which deflected in off Rayan Ait-Nouri, making him the first Newcastle player to find the net in eight consecutive Premier League matches.

Eddie Howe's team created the better chances in the first half, with Jacob Murphy twice denied by Jose Sa and Isak flashing a shot narrowly past the near post before his opener.

Jorgen Strand Larsen struck the outside of the post for Wolves late in the first half, but Isak doubled his and Newcastle's tally 11 minutes after the restart from Bruno Guimaraes' clever pass.

Half-time substitute Matheus Cunha delivered a lively display off the bench, blazing wide after racing clear of Sven Botman before shooting just off-target from the edge of the box.

But Newcastle clinched a comfortable win with 16 minutes remaining when Isak picked out an unmarked Anthony Gordon, who slid a low shot past Sa from a central position.

Santiago Bueno thought he had reduced the arrears when he bundled home from close range not long after Gordon's effort, and Strand Larsen was denied by a magnificent Martin Dubravka save late on - but it was too little, too late for Wolves.

The Magpies' latest triumph lifts them into the top four for the first time since September, while Wolves slip into the relegation zone on goal difference.

Isak and Magpies continue to soar

Howe's team were 12th in the table in early December but began the game knowing that victory would lift them into the Champions League places after a four-month absence.

Though not at their fluent best in the first half Newcastle created the vast majority of the chances - but needed a slice of good fortune to get their noses in front, Isak's shot striking Ait-Nouri before curling inside Sa's right-hand post.

The 25-year-old is the fourth player to score in eight consecutive Premier League games - after Ruud van Nistelrooy, Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy, who scored in a record 11 consecutive league matches in Leicester's 2015-16 title-winning season.

Sandro Tonali - such an integral cog in the Magpies' recent resurgence - controlled the tempo for the home side in another superb display and could have had a goal himself, but his shot on the stroke of half-time was deflected wide by team-mate Joelinton.

The hosts were relieved to see Strand Larsen's shot brush the outside of the post moments earlier, but they continued to dominate proceedings in the second half and deservedly doubled their advantage not long after the interval.

Guimaraes was the architect, cutting inside from the right before threading an inch-perfect ball into the unmarked Isak, who controlled the pass with his first touch before sliding a shot past Sa with his second.

There was to be no hat-trick but the 25-year-old was heavily involved in Newcastle's third of the evening, showing tremendous composure to pick out Gordon after his initial delivery was deflected back into his path.

Goalkeeper Dubravka, celebrating his 36th birthday, marked the occasion with a sensational late save at the feet of Strand Larsen, deflecting the Norway striker's shot against the woodwork as the home side completed their first league double over Wolves in 119 years.

Wolves in deep trouble

Facing a Magpies side brimming with confidence was always going to be a tall order for a Wolves outfit with the worst defensive record in the division, but they were a little unfortunate to be behind at the interval.

Newcastle enjoyed the lion's share of possession, but the visitors committed plenty of bodies forward when they did get the ball and caused the Magpies one or two problems on the counter-attack.

Goncalo Guedes had a shot deflected narrowly wide by Lewis Hall with the score goalless, before Strand Larsen was thwarted by the upright after Isak's opener.

Cunha, who started on the bench after returning from a two-game suspension, was unfortunate not to cap an energetic display with a goal, but Wolves' attacking endeavours were undermined by familiar defensive frailties.

Isak was left in far too much space in the build-up to his second goal, as was Gordon for the Magpies' third of the match.

Bueno was unlucky to be denied a late consolation after the ball struck his hand and Strand Larsen rattled the crossbar, but this was another sobering evening for new boss Vitor Pereira after what had been a promising start to his Molineux reign.