Premier League round-up:Kevin Doyle will travel to Dublin for next week's friendly with an added pep in his step after helping Wolves pull off an unlikely comeback in the 2-2 draw at Newcastle. The visitors had looked dead and buried after Papiss Cisse and then Jonas Gutierrez had fired the Magpies into a 2-0 lead with just 18 minutes played.
However, in front of the disbelieving eyes of a crowd of 52,287, the avalanche failed to materialise and after Matt Jarvis had dragged the visitors back into the game five minutes into the second half, Doyle struck with 66 minutes gone to snatch a draw. Both sides had conceded five times in their previous game, but for 45 minutes, only one looked likely to repeat that feat this afternoon as the visitors’ disappointing return in front of goal and inability to deny the opposition at the other end returned to haunt them.
In truth, Wolves enjoyed as much of the possession as their hosts, but where they huffed and puffed without ever really troubling keep Tim Krul, Newcastle managed to expose opposite number Wayne Hennessey almost at will, and beat him twice within the opening 18 minutes.
The Wales international found himself in the thick of the action almost from the off, although his side contributed to their own downfall as the first goal arrived with just six minutes played. Yohan Cabaye, back from his three-match suspension to partner Cheick Tiote in his first appearance since the beginning of last month, caught Christophe Berra in possession and crossed for Demba Ba to audaciously back-heel a shot towards goal.
Hennessey pulled off a fine save to deny the Senegal international, but after the ball was scrambled clear, Tiote returned it with interest and Cisse turned his shot home. The keeper kept Newcastle at bay with 17 minutes gone when he tipped Danny Simpson’s searing drive over the bar, but he was beaten again within seconds. Doyle’s clearing header dropped to Gutierrez 25 yards out, and the Argentinian took a controlling touch before rifling a shot into the top corner.
The mood changed markedly within five minutes of the restart as Wolves were granted a slice of the sort of good fortune which has eluded them for much of the season to date. Jarvis cut inside from the left and fired in a shot which clipped full-back Simpson and looped high over Krul and into the net. And Wolves were level when Mike Williamson headed Jamie O’Hara’s free-kick straight at Doyle, who reacted first to the rebound to poke the ball into the bottom corner.
Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews marked his full West Brom debut with a goal as West Brom overpowered a below-par Sunderland 4-0 at the Hawthorns. Roy Hodgson’s side, who had collected only one point from their previous six home games, dominated against the previously on-song Black Cats.
Peter Odemwingie grabbed a brace, the Nigerian striker heading Albion in front with just three minutes on the clock, providing the perfect finish to a cross from Youssouf Mulumbu. James Morrison added another four minutes before the interval with an easy header following Jerome Thomas’ cross from the left. Odemwingie then scored his second of the match three minutes into the second half before
Andrews made it 4-0 in injury-time with a curling shot into the top corner.
And in his final game before returning to MLS, Robbie Keane was unable to inspire Aston Villa as they played out a scoreless draw with Wigan at the JJB Stadium.
Chelsea, meanwhile, returned to the top four with a battling 3-0 win over Bolton at Stamford Bridge. The Blues were aiming to end a five-match winless run and eventually took the lead after 48 minutes through David Luiz, who found space in the box to fire home.
Didier Drogba then doubled the advantage after 61 minutes with a header from Frank Lampard’s corner. Lampard put the result beyond doubt 12 minutes from time, sweeping home a cross from Juan Mata.
An early goal from Pavel Pogrebnyak earned Fulham a 1-0 victory over 10-man QPR at Loftus Road. The Cottagers were in front after seven minutes when the Russian striker lured Paddy Kenny out of the QPR goal before rolling a shot past the keeper and into the net.
Things failed to improve for the home side when Samba Diakite was sent off after 33 minutes for a poor challenge on Bryan Ruiz, which earned the midfielder a second yellow card.
