A mask could not disguise the substantive nature of this victory, yet the face-guard worn by Shola Ameobi was emblematic of Newcastle United’s performance.
With his shattered cheekbone, the centre forward soaked up shoves and stray elbows, putting his health in jeopardy in pursuit of three points. In pursuit of another season of this.
They always find a way to respond; when they need it, it comes. Supporters had expended as much energy dwelling on their 4-0 capitulation away to Stoke City as the team had playing in it, but with the rusty tang of trepidation in the air, Newcastle summoned their warrior spirit. In the dressing room beforehand, the veterans spoke of relegation in 2009. Ameobi strapped on his mask.
What followed was never as comfortable as the result suggests, but as the engagement ended, relief seeped into St James’ Park. Newcastle stood ninth in the table, seven points clear of the bottom three, and while this is a perplexing campaign in which punishment for complacency is a rare constant, they can begin to contemplate security.
“I think there’s a resolve in there that probably harks back to the year they were relegated,” Alan Pardew said; eight members of the starting XI were accessories to that misdemeanour. “That got mentioned a bit today and I can understand that. At a big club like this, going down . . . don’t think it’s lost on players. It fired a few bellies.”
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Demotion served as a form of inspiration; unity forged then has endured. “Relegation was mentioned,” Ameobi said. “We don’t kid ourselves. We were looking over our shoulders. We’ve been through it. Two years ago, we didn’t take it as seriously, we thought we were fine. We needed this win.”
Kevin Nolan was unwell, but he pulled on his boots to score his twelfth goal of the season. Ameobi headed Newcastle’s second and it was only after Peter Lovenkrands claimed a third in the 50th minute — after fine work by Fabricio Coloccini — that Wolverhampton Wanderers stirred and the disquiet prompted by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s goal was not dispelled until Jonás Gutiérrez rounded things off in the final seconds.
There was pain. “It’s sore, really sore,” Ameobi said. “Every time I head the ball it is hard plastic, so it smashes against your face. I got a boot in the face, the back of someone’s head in the face. It hurts. But the mask has given me a chance to play and that’s what I wanted.”
It was only Newcastle’s second win in 11 matches, but, as they tend to, they delivered. Their cadre of senior professionals — Nolan, who will be suspended for two games after being cautioned for the tenth time, Coloccini, a controlled Joey Barton — were pivotal, but Ameobi’s bravery defined them. Given the absence of Leon Best (and, more permanently, Andy Carroll), it was vital.
“Shola was magnificent today,” Pardew said. “He’s got such fast feet for a tall man. Since I’ve been here he’s as good a striker I’ve ever worked with and he should take that confidence because I’ve worked with a few good ’uns. There is no reason why Shola at this late stage in his career can’t have a fantastic end to it.”
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Finally, Newcastle can look up; Wolves are not so blessed. After four matches without defeat, they were mediocre on Tyneside and Mick McCarthy was dismissive of their “Keystone Kops” defending. “We came here sure that we could get something, but we have surprised ourselves how poorly we played,” Michael Kightly, a substitute, said.
The reaction will be critical.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): S Harper 7 — D Simpson 6, M Williamson 6, F Coloccini 8, S Ferguson 6 (sub: J Perch, 59min 5) — J Barton 8 (sub: S Taylor, 89), D Guthrie 6, K Nolan 7, J Gutiérrez 7 — F Ameobi 8, P Lovenkrands 6 (sub: N Ranger, 68 6). Substitutes not used: S Campbell, T Krul, J Tavernier, S Kuqi. Booked: Ameobi, Nolan, Gutiérrez, Ranger. Next: Aston Villa (a).
Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-1-1): W Hennessey 5 — K Foley 5, R Stearman 5, C Berra 5, G Elokobi 4 (sub: S Ward, 81) — K Henry 5 — A Hammill 4 (sub: M Kightly, 53 5), N Milijas 5 (sub: S Fletcher, 30 5), J O’Hara 5, M Jarvis 6 — S Ebanks-Blake 6. Substitutes not used: M Hahnemann, J Craddock, D Jones, M Mancienne. Booked: Elokobi, Milijas, O’Hara. Next: Everton (h).