What Eddie Howe said after Newcastle’s 0-0 draw at Wolves

It was a torrid game in some equally torrid weather as we were forced to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw against Wolves at Molineux.

Eddie Howe opted for close to our strongest available team, making four changes, but we were unable to break down Rob Edwards’ side.

The result takes us up to 8th place in the table, and means we are still unbeaten in the league in 2026. But it’s a result that will feel like two points lost more than one point gained on the road.

Here’s what Howe had to say after the game:

Seeing positives from ‘frustrating’ game

Despite Wolves’ recent run of form, Sunday should’ve been three points for Howe and the lads. But again a low block team that allowed us to keep the ball proved to be our undoing.

Whilst Howe has bemoaned the lack of quality and frustration of the game, he has praised his players for continuously trying to win the game and keeping pressure high throughout the 90.

“We were trying, and tried right until the very end to win that game. It was a game of frustration for us really, they played very low and minimised space, and we had to have the intention of trying to win the game in every moment.

“We had a lot of the ball. I thought we didn’t do enough with it, our cutting edge was missing but I thought we played better as the game went on. I thought the substitutes made a positive impact so there’s good things to review.

“I thought we had control of the game very early. We had to minimise their counter-attack threat, I thought we did that pretty well in both halves.

“And I thought there were moments for us, goalscoring opportunities that we didn’t take today and you’re looking for an individual moment or player to make the difference, or a set-play or something to spark us into life. And we had the chances even right to the end, Bruno had a couple of moments, Joelinton had a couple of moments but it just didn’t fall for us.”

On missed opportunity in the league

We had the golden opportunity to go up to 5th in the Premier League table, but we have to settle for 8th and sit just three points behind Liverpool for the time being.

With crunch games in the other three competitions coming up in the next month, will this go down as two points lost against relegation candidate rather than a hard-fought point away from home?

“Yeah we’ll look at today as, at the moment, a two points dropped feeling. But you never know how the season unfolds, you never know how you’ll look back at this in the following weeks.

“We have to take the positives, it’s 10 points out of 12, it’s another game where we got points on the board so there’s two ways to look at everything. We now have to dust ourselves down very quickly for the Champions League on Wednesday.”

On facing fatigue with fixture list

“I don’t think we were fatigued, I didn’t see that. I thought we were fatigued against Manchester City in the week for understandable reasons with the extra time that we had.

“But today I saw a fresh team, I didn’t see a team that was as good as it could be in the final third, but there was no lack of effort. I felt physically we looked okay, we were just looking for a moment to come that never arrived.

“We want to be working their goalkeeper a lot more in both halves. There were moments for us to do that, our finishing wasn’t good enough today, our chance creation wasn’t good enough today.”

On promising Anthony Elanga cameo

One player who needed a big performance today was Anthony Elanga: with Jacob Murphy out with injury, it was the perfect time for the Swede to stake his claim for the starting right wing spot against Harvey Barnes.

Though he didn’t notch a goal or assist, Elanga did produce an improved display, putting in some nice crosses and exhibiting his pace against the Wolves defence, much to Howe’s pleasure.

“Very good, very pleased. He came on and instantly made an impact for us: he was direct, putting in some lovely crosses that we should have done better with, worked hard, showed the right attitude as he always does. But looked confident today so I was really pleased with him.”

On what to expect in the January window

Another dire attacking display on the road has got many fans’ alarm bells ringing, particularly as we head into the most important period of our season.

Reinforcements are very much welcome to try, particularly if a goalscoring winger is amongst them, but Howe has seemingly shot down any chance of us bringing in fresh attackers this window.

“I don't think we have the financial ability to do that.”

Of course there are equally big problem areas in the squad right now, like how we have no natural coverage for Lewis Hall in the senior squad, but Howe’s brief comment is concerning considering we’re nearly three weeks into the window and seem no closer to making a signing.

On standing by his forwards

But in the face of fan and media criticism, Howe has stood by his numerous attackers, particularly after comments that they are too ‘like for like’ and lack unique characteristics to benefit the team.

“Whether it is Harvey Barnes or the two Anths, Jacob Murphy when he is fit, they all have different attributes. So yes they may be referred to as a wide player.

“But you saw Anthony Elanga come on today. I thought he did really well and I was really happy with him. He gives us a totally different threat to somebody who plays in that position.

“I think you can say that for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. They are two totally different strikers but they will both be labelled a striker. So that is the squad we have got.

“And I am really proud to manage this group of players. I don't think our attacking output today was good enough.”