Woltemade scores on debut as Newcastle beat Wolves

Nick Woltemade enjoyed a debut to remember after his bullet header helped Newcastle United end their wait for a first win of the season against Wolves.

The German, who completed a club record £69m move from Stuttgart on 30 August, was handed a rapturous welcome by the home support at St James' Park.

And it did not take the towering forward long to repay their backing.

Woltemade peeled away from Wolves defender Emmanuel Agbadou in the 29th minute to power a header past Sam Johnstone after getting on the end of Jacob Murphy's scooped cross.

Newcastle pushed for a second and Sandro Tonali saw a 20-yard effort strike the inside of the post before half-time.

Wolves struggled to get back into the game after previously making a bright start to the game.

In fact, Wolves looked the likelier scorers at one point after Rodrigo Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan both had efforts well saved by Nick Pope early on.

But Vitor Pereira's side's wait for a first point of the campaign goes on.

Newcastle analysis: Woltemade up and running

A goalscorer. That's what Newcastle had sorely lacked.

With Alexander Isak on strike, and no senior recognised forward available, Eddie Howe's side failed to score in two of their opening three games of the campaign, picking up just a couple of points in the process.

Enter Woltemade.

Newcastle would have ideally liked to ease Woltemade in, as the German had never played outside of his homeland before.

The club even brought in a proven Premier League forward in Yoane Wissa on deadline day to help share the burden following Isak's British record move to Liverpool.

But Wissa suffered a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo, so head coach Howe had little option but to throw Woltemade in from the off against Wolves – just a few days after he trained with his new team-mates for the first time.

He quickly made an impact.

Woltemade is not a traditional target man – the 6ft 6in is a technician capable of wriggling out of tight spaces and linking play – but the debutant opened his account with a classic number nine's goal.

Murphy, who laid on so many goals for Isak last season, delivered a ball into the box, and the new arrival provided the scoring header.

It was the cue for the home support to break out into a chant of: "Woltemade, Woltemade, ole, ole, ole."

And they were later on their feet to give him a standing ovation after he was replaced by William Osula midway through the second half.

Forwards are revered in these parts and it looks as if Woltemade has already been embraced by Newcastle fans.

Wolves analysis: Wait for a point goes on

Wolves made history on Saturday - but not for the right reasons.

They have now lost each of their opening four games of a league campaign for the first time in their history. For context, this is the club's 127th season in the Football League or Premier League.

The visitors, in truth, never looked like getting back into this game after going behind.

Yet they had made a bright start.

Indeed the game had just got under way when Wolves went long and Rodrigo Gomes' effort was pushed behind by Pope. From the resulting corner, Hwang's half-volley forced Pope into a fine stop.

It gave the travelling support up in the gods real encouragement. In fact, at one point, the away end felt assured enough to ask Geordies where was their "famous atmosphere".

Wolves certainly caused Newcastle problems with their pace in behind before the hosts took the lead.

Gomes fired wide from close range while Newcastle needed Fabian Schar to make a last-ditch tackle to prevent Tolu Arokodare from tapping home at the back post on his debut.

However, crucially, Wolves did not grab that opener.

How the return of talisman Jorgen Stand Larsen will be welcomed after the striker missed this game against his one-time suitors with an Achilles injury.

Wolves certainly need a boost.

What next for these teams?

Newcastle host Barcelona at St James' Park in the club's Champions League opener on Thursday, 18 September.

Wolves welcome Leeds United to Molineux on Saturday, 20 September.