Wolves 0-0 Newcastle

Newcastle missed the chance to climb into the Premier League's top five after being held to a goalless draw at battling Wolves.

The Champions League-chasing Magpies were looking for a fourth straight league win for the first time since April, but lacked inspiration as striker Nick Woltemade again drew a blank.

The £69m Germany forward, who scored on his Newcastle debut against Wolves in September, now has just three goals in his past 19 games and was replaced by Yoane Wissa in the second half.

Eddie Howe's side would have gone fifth with a win by two clear goals, but did not manage a shot on target until the 85th minute - although they did move up a place to eighth with this point.

Rock-bottom Wolves are 14 points from safety and have other priorities, but have rediscovered their drive and - more importantly - their organisation in recent weeks.

While it will be too late to save them after failing to win any of their opening 19 games, there is at least growing optimism for the future under boss Rob Edwards.

Much of that comes from teenage breakthrough star Mateus Mane, who hooked a shot at Nick Pope, while Jose Sa saved late efforts from Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

Woltemade's goal struggles will be a growing concern for Howe - and the striker's barren spell could dent Newcastle's Champions League hopes.

Just three goals in his past 19 games is not a total Woltemade or his manager would have expected after a goalscoring debut against Wolves in September.

The German scored five times in his first eight matches after a club record move from Stuttgart in an impressive start to life in the north east.

But that confidence has ebbed away and the 23-year-old was replaced by Wissa midway through the second half after another fruitless outing.

Woltemade was not given a great deal of service, but what he did have to work with he wasted - including a glancing first-half header which he may have done better with.

He still has seven goals in 19 appearances, but if he fails to re-find his shooting boots it will harm the Magpies' top-four chances.

Newcastle had scored seven goals in their past three league matches - all wins - before coming to Molineux, but with just one by a striker (Wissa's goal against Burnley).

The Magpies did not have a shot on target while Woltemade was on the pitch on Sunday - albeit a statistic he is not entirely responsible for - and will view a stalemate against the league's bottom side as a wasted opportunity.

However, Wolves have rediscovered their fight and a point in a forgettable match was a fair result, even if Newcastle will have reasons to be deflated.

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