Boly scores at the death to cruelly deny Newcastle three points

Willy Boly scored in the final seconds of injury-time as Wolves snatched a point against a dogged Newcastle side in a 1-1 stalemate at Molineux.

Isaac Hayden had opened the scoring for the visitors in the second half after a tepid first period but it would not be enough.

Newcastle entered the game in indifferent form. Their win over Manchester City most unexpected but was also book-ended by losses to Watford and Tottenham.

But the Geordie outfit knew a win in the Midlands would pull them three points clear of the relegation zone in what is becoming a dog-fight to avoid the drop with teams placed 13th to 18th separated by just three points.

Magpies faithful got their first look at January signing Miguel Almiron as the Paraguay international came off the bench to feature for the first time since his record-breaking move from Atlanta United.

A tame first half did nothing to ignite the crowd but there was a flicker of life when Jiminez had a penalty shout rightly turned down. Jonny linked wonderfully with Jota before the full-back pulled the ball back to the Mexican striker before he went down under a challenge from Christian Atsu. The Ghanaian winger had actually produced an excellent challenge to deny Jiminez from netting his tenth Premier League goal.

Moments later the hosts carved out another chance when Jonny and Jota combined well down the left before the latter flashed in an inviting cross, only for it to evade every onrushing gold shirt.

Jiminez then tested Martin Dubravka after he tricked his way past DeAndre Yedlin on the byline before cutting inside and hitting a low, hard effort to force the Slovakian shot-stopper to act quickly.

Jonny was the next to test the Newcastle goalkeeper after a ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he drove it back goalward through a crowd of players but Dubravka handled it well.

Rafa Benitez’s men started to find some rhythm before the half-time whistle sounded as they piled the pressure on the Wolves defence.

Salomon Rondon came closest to breaking the deadlock and giving the away side a vital lead before the break, but his left-footed effort was well blocked by Conor Coady right on the stroke of the interval. Newcastle’s struggles in front of goal continued, only Huddersfield Town have scored fewer this season than Benitez’s squad.

Wolves fans and manager Nuno Espirito Santo would not have been particularly surprised by their first half blank as entering the game 73% of their goals had come in the second half. A sign of foreshadowing that would come into play in the most dramatic way.

Almiron came off the bench to make his Newcastle debut (photo credit: Premier League).

Two minutes into the second period Jiminez gave another warning sign when his powerful left-foot drive was deflected for a corner from which Jota flicked the ball on and Matt Doherty met the ball with a diving header from two yards out but somehow managed to put the ball wide. Sean Longstaff maybe did just enough to put off the Wolves full-back.

With 55 minutes played the first goal finally came when Isaac Hayden smashed the visitors into the lead.

Newcastle stitched together a fine passing move before Fabian Schar slipped in the English midfielder, who wanted to leave both in summer and the January transfer window, who drilled a hard effort past Rui Patricio in the Wolves goal. The Portuguese should have done much better with the effort but seemed caught in two minds, almost expecting the cross from Hayden but instead helped the ball into the back of the net.

Newcastle almost surrendered the lead as quickly as they gained it, however. First Jota and then Leander Dendoncker tested Dubravka, but the Slovakian remained unbeatable.

Santo turned to his substitutes bench for answers, throwing on Ivan Cavaleira and Helder Costa in search of the equaliser with 21 minutes remaining.

Benitez finally introduced his new £24 million signing with 19 minutes to go and was greeted with a huge cheer from the travelling Toon Army.

The former Atlanta man instantly injected much needed energy into proceedings as Newcastle looked to claim their third away win of the season. The South American caused defensive uncertainty in the Wolves ranks as the Wanderers now had to be wary of a lightening quick counter-attack while pushing for the leveller.

Jiminez almost restored parity with nine minutes left, but his header was misplaced and rolled harmlessly wide. The Mexican then tried his luck three minutes later but miscued his effort to such a degree that it went out for a throw in. It was just one of those nights for him.

Adama Traore was sent on in one last roll of the dice, prompting Benitez to send on a defensive midfielder in the shape of Mohamed Diame.

Wolves mustered one final onslaught onto Dubravka’s goal in an attempt to earn what would have been a well-deserved point.

And they finally got it in the last second of the game. Though it came with controversy and turned Benitez’s cheeks red with anger.

Boly rose highest to meet a looping Traore cross, seemingly using the shoulders of the Newcastle goalkeeper for leverage, before nodding the ball in from inches away.

Benitez exchanged angry words with referee Graham Scott afterwards and left the field shaking his head and muttering to himself after cruelly being denied the extra two points. Dubravka  looked to be caught out from the cross, and then tried to catch the ball rather than punch it.

For Newcastle, the result will feel like a punch in the stomach as they remain just one point above the trapdoor.