Wolves 3 Newcastle 2
First Division Wolves knocked Premiership high-flyers Newcastle out of the English FA Cup with an exciting 3-2 third round victory at Molineux today.
Wolves were cruising at 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from former England international Paul Ince and Republic of Ireland winger Mark Kennedy.
But Newcastle, fourth in the Premiership, levelled twice before half-time with Jermaine Jenas and former England captain Alan Shearer scoring from a penalty.
But in a match where on three occasions Wolves cleared goalbound shots off their own line, it was Dave Jones' underdogs who scored the clinching goal when George Ndah struck early in the second half.
"We deserved to lose today," said an angry Shearer.
"There weren't enough players working hard enough. We got back into the game but then committed suicide."
Former Manchester United and Liverpool star Ince gave Wolves the perfect start when Paul Butler headed a Mark Kennedy cross back from the far post.
Ince, arriving late in the box, met the ball on the half-volley and fired home from close to the penalty spot.
Newcastle, who were clearly missing the influence of injured midfield duo Gary Speed and Kieron Dyer, and had Jenas and Clarence Acuna deputising, then saw Wolves double their lead in the 28th minute after a superb counter-attack.
Wolves keeper Matt Murray safely gathered Nolberto Solano's free-kick and released Shaun Newton who in turn found Colin Cameron.
His low cross from the right found Kennedy, coming in from the left, whose powerful shot rifled into the net.
But Newcastle turned the match upside down with two goals inside three minutes just before half-time.
Wales forward Craig Bellamy inspired a counter-attack and his blistering run ended with him passing to strike partner Shearer whose shot was blocked but looped up for Jenas to head into the goal.
And in the 43rd minute, Bobby Robson's men were back on level terms. Bellamy took on the Wolves defence and made his way into the box where he went down although defender Joleon Lescott appeared to make minimal contact at best.
Nevertheless referee Rob Styles awarded a penalty and Murray could do nothing about Shearer's spot-kick.
Minutes after the break Shearer almost put Newcastle in front but his free-kick from the edge of the 18-yard box was blocked on the line by Lescott who also somehow got in front of Clarence Acuna's follow-up.
And moments later, the value of Lescott's work was emphasised when Wolves once again took the lead.
Kennedy's cross from the left was headed back across goal by Newton and Ndah, back in the side after suffering with 'flu, bundled the ball home from just a few yards out in the 49th minute to make it 3-2.
Ndah might have had a second when Newcastle keeper Shay Given, in the 62nd minute, threw the ball against one of his defenders, but the Republic of Ireland international, and his defence, combined to block Ndah's close range attempt.
At the other end Bellamy nearly grabbed a lifeline for Newcastle in the 75th minute when he was clean through on goal.
But Murray, who had been looking shaky, was quickly off his line to bravely block at Bellamy's feet.
Robson brought on striker Lomano LuaLua for Solano and within seconds he almost had a goal.
Bellamy's pace again undid the Wolves defence and his cross found the unmarked LuaLua. But the forward's shot was volleyed off the line by defender Lee Naylor.
With two minutes remaining Newcastle's Nikos Dabizas headed in from a corner but Styles penalised the Greek defender for climbing.
Wolves' Kevin Cooper could have made it 4-2 when he was clean through in in injury time but his shot was blocked by Given.