Alexander Isak scored for the eighth Premier League game in a row with a brace of goals as Newcastle United eased to a 3-0 home victory over struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park on Wednesday.
Anthony Gordon netted the third, with an assist from Isak, as Newcastle moved into fourth place with 38 points from 21 games. Wolves remain in the relegation zone with 16 points from the same number of matches.
Only four players have scored in eight successive Premier League matches, with Isak joining Jamie Vardy and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who both did it twice, and Daniel Sturridge, as the Swede took his tally for the season to 15 in the top flight.
Wolves had some bright moments and a goal by Santiago Bueno was disallowed for a handball, while they also struck the woodwork twice through Jorgen Strand Larsen. But their defending remains an Achilles heel in a season of struggle.
Newcastle claimed a ninth win in a row in all competitions and sixth on the trot in the Premier League with their ambition to finish in the Champions League qualification places alive and well.
Wolves had the first big chance when Goncalo Guedes burst into the box but his shot from eight yards was deflected narrowly wide, while at the other end Isak shot wide after being picked out by Bruno Guimarães.
Newcastle broke through the Wolves defence on 34 minutes as Isak picked up the ball 40 yards out and drove towards goal.
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Wolves failed to put in a challenge on the edge of the box and Isak fired low into the bottom-left corner of the net via a deflection.
The home side continued to create the better chances, but Wolves looked dangerous on the break and Larsen struck the outside of the post. He would hit the woodwork again late on.
Isak scored his second just before the hour mark when he was fed in the box by a clever pass from Guimarães, and his turn and finish was clinical.
Second-half substitute Matheus Cunha flashed a shot wide when he should have hit the target, before Gordon added Newcastle’s third.
This time Isak was the provider as he slid a pass into Gordon in the box and the forward easily finished unmarked from 10 yards past José Sá in the visiting goal.
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