Two stunning strikes sent Toon to top three - It wasn't pretty again but it was beautiful

Newcastle United did it again - a sub-par performance in the middle of the game was bookended by control and confidence as Magpies end Molineux curse.

Wolverhampton Wanderers went in at half time with a one-goal advantage after Mario Lemina tapped home from just a couple of yards after some top play from Joao Gomes who won the ball deep in his own half. He then got Wolves moving forward via Jorgen Strand Larson down the right, who played the ball across the face of goal for Gomes to feign a shot and step over the ball which wrong-footed Fabian Schar and left Lemina with the easiest finish of his career.

It was a nice move by the hosts, although nowhere near as good as Paul Merson would have you believe who said on Sky Sports at half time:

"It is phenomenal [from Gomes], you will not see a better piece of skill in the Premier League all season, this is top, top level, it is unbelievable - if Messi did that, we would all be going mad.

"Everything about it is phenomenal, his awareness, vision, that just shows you about a football brain."

Steady on, mate.

Newcastle started well and ended well but were dire in the middle of the game ... again

Newcastle controlled possession for the first half an hour of the game and had a few half chances, but once Lemina's goal went in Newcastle went to sleep yet again as has been the case so many times this season.

There seems to be a lack of desire and intensity for our lot in the middle of a game. However, as we've been saying all season, the performance is secondary to the points and we'd take a frustrating 90 minutes that ends with a win over a quality display that produces no points every time.

Eddie Howe made a triple substitution at half time with Sean Longstaff and Joelinton both hooked after being pretty poor. Alexander Isak was the third player hooked after picking up an injury to his nose at the end of the half.

On came Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock who gave us a bit more of an impetus to get forward once they settled into the game.

Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes staged their own goal of the season competition

Kieran Trippier replaced Tino Livramento just past the hour mark and the Magpies started to grow back into the game, again, as they so often have this season.

Fabian Schar grabbed the equaliser for Newcastle with a trademark screamer which did take a mild deflection off the thinning hair of Craig Dawson which caused the ball to loop over Sam Johnstone and into the net.

Not to be outdone, though, Harvey Barnes, who looked brilliant after coming on, cut in from the wing and made his way to the middle of the pitch and unleashed a curling effort from 20 yards which swerved right into the top corner. Both goals were absolutely magnificent and were almost enough to make us forget just how turgid much of the football we played actually was.

Nick Pope made a superb stop late in the second half showing once again how much we missed him last season. He can't kick for toffee but his shot-stopping ability is second to none.

The win takes Newcastle to third in the Premier League level on points with Arsenal and two behind Manchester City. It's our best start to a season since the last time we had a blue and maroon hooped away kit made by Adidas.