Wolverhampton, England – Newcastle United's hopes of climbing into the Premier League's top five suffered a setback as they were held to a goalless draw by a determined Wolves side at Molineux on January 18, 2026. The result left manager Eddie Howe visibly frustrated, as his team struggled to break down the resolute defense of the league's bottom-ranked team.
Newcastle entered the match on a three-game winning streak in the Premier League, with confidence high after victories over Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Leeds United. A win against Wolves would have propelled them into fifth place. However, Wolves, despite their lowly position, have been in a recent resurgence, remaining unbeaten in their last four matches.
The Magpies dominated possession but failed to create enough clear-cut chances. Their attacking players struggled to make an impact, and the team as a whole found it difficult to unlock a Wolves team that was set up to defend deep. Newcastle failed to register a shot on target in a first half that lacked quality in the final third. Wolves, on the other hand, had a couple of opportunities through Mateus Mane and Yerson Mosquera, but Nick Pope was equal to the task.
Howe expressed his disappointment with his team's attacking output, saying, "We needed to do more in attack. I expected us to do better and create more". He further lamented the lack of presence in the box, stating, "Too many balls going across the front of their goal with not enough black and white shirts in the box, so that was a disappointment for us".
Newcastle attempted to increase the pressure in the second half, and Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa was called into action to deny Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton with a double save late in the game. However, the Magpies' attacking woes on the road continued, as they failed to score in their sixth away game out of eleven this season.
Howe refused to place blame solely on individual players, emphasizing the collective responsibility for the team's attacking struggles. "It's not just about those two players, it's about the whole team. We didn't have enough goalmouth action," he stated. He also expressed his disappointment with the team's set-piece delivery.
The goalless draw against Wolves highlighted Newcastle's struggles to break down teams that defend in a low block. With a challenging run of fixtures ahead, including a Champions League game against PSV, Howe will be looking for solutions to improve his team's attacking efficiency and ensure they can convert their dominance into goals.
