With just his second goal since December, Miguel Almiron came off the bench to help Newcastle United defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on Sunday, lifting his team into fifth place in the Premier League.
Almiron was given his chance in the 68th minute after manager Eddie Howe had left him off the starting lineup. Eleven minutes later, he made his mark with a brilliant goal to give Newcastle their first league victory in six games.
signing a club record After 26 minutes, Newcastle took the lead thanks to a strong header from Alexander Isak, although they may have been lucky not to have been reduced to 10 men as goalkeeper Nick Pope first appeared to bring down Raul Jimenez in the box.
Pope made a number of excellent stops, while Daniel Podence attempted a shot that hit the post, adding to Wolves’ displeasure.
However, the visitors were able to tie the score in the 70th minute thanks to a mistake by Kieran Trippier while attempting to clear the ball.
With the win, Newcastle overtook Liverpool and now has 44 points from 25 games, four points behind Tottenham Hotspur with two games remaining.
Wolves are still in 13th place, just three points above the bottom-half of the standings.
Earlier in the season, Paraguayan Almiron was unstoppable when it came to scoring goals, but now, he has stopped.
But he quickly returned to form with a curled finish after Joe Willock played him through.
Izak ran Wolves ragged at times in a tireless performance, and he was rewarded with his fourth goal in nine league outings since his high-profile transfer from Real Sociedad. Izak was chosen above another out-of-form Newcastle attacker, Callum Wilson.
Izak, who brilliantly connected with a Trippier cross, said: “I’ve been wanting to play more but it has been giving me a little of fuel and I’m glad to start today and get three points.
“I had to practice patience, but I put in a lot of effort. I was glad to have Trippier as my helper today. Both the delivery and the header were excellent.”
Bruno Guimaraes’ point-blank attempt at the Wolves goal before halftime hit the crossbar because Newcastle had been given a boost by Izak’s goal.
Pedro Neto’s ferociously struck free kick from Wolves in the second half forced Pope into a quick save.
Although Trippier’s careless error appeared to have cost his team the victory, Almiron’s 11th goal of the year saved his face.
But, Wolves will highlight the incident in which Pope made a careless touch of the ball in the 20th minute and Jimenez snuck in to steal it before being shoved over by the goalkeeper.
Surprisingly, referee Andy Madley did nothing.
“I believe there ought to have been a punishment. The referee is really unlucky for us, “According to Julen Lopetegui, the manager of Wolves.
