Goals from Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, and Tino Livramento helped Newcastle overcome Wolves and register their first home win in the Premier League since mid-December.
Sweden international Isak nodded in at the end of a sweeping counter-attack involving Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes, whose left-footed shot deflected off Craig Dawson and into the striker’s path.
Eddie Howe’s team doubled their advantage when Jose Sa and Max Kilman failed to deal with Jacob Murphy’s low cross, and Gordon pounced on the loose ball to fire home.
Wolves had the lion’s share of possession at St James’ Park but failed to test Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka until midway through the second half, when half-time substitute Nathan Fraser’s low shot from the edge of the box was palmed clear.
Dubravka produced a superb stop to deny Pablo Sarabia moments later, but Livramento struck his first Newcastle goal in stoppage time to seal the Magpies’ first home victory since their 3-0 win over Fulham on December 16.
The win lifted Newcastle up to eighth in the table, while Wolves dropped to 10th.
Magpies rediscover home comforts
Three more points and a first clean sheet in two and a half months caps a satisfying week for Newcastle, who reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Championship side Blackburn on Tuesday.
Newcastle’s inconsistent league form has been a cause for concern but, after a slow start against Wolves, they looked more like the side that secured Champions League football for the first time in 20 years last term.
They appeared to gain in confidence after Isak’s 15th goal of the season and went close to doubling their lead when Dan Burn scuffed wide from the edge of the area.
Jacob Murphy shot straight at Sa not long afterwards, but the Wolves goalkeeper was at fault for Newcastle’s second, his attempted clearance from Murphy’s cross deflecting off Kilman and into Gordon’s path.
Newcastle’s Joe Willock, making only his second league start of the campaign, thought he had made it 3-0 in the second half but was denied by a superb goal-line block by the retreating Toti Gomes.
The only sour note for the hosts was an injury to captain Kieran Trippier, who was replaced by Livramento seven minutes into the second half.
The former Southampton full-back completed the scoring, skipping between two defenders before slotting the ball into the far corner.
The victory was Howe’s 100th in the top flight as a manager, but his team’s confident display on home soil will mean a great deal more than any personal milestones.
Wolves unbeaten away run ended
A run of six wins from nine league matches had lifted Wolves above Newcastle before this game, but manager Gary O’Neil will be disappointed with his team’s defending for the first two goals in particular.
The visitors were carved open too easily after Rayan Ait-Nouri lost possession before Isak’s header, while Sa and Kilman got in each other’s way for Gordon’s strike.
To make matters worse for Wolves, Sa and Pedro Neto were forced off through injury at half-time, with Dan Bentley and 19-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international Fraser coming on in their stead.
Wolves eventually sprang into life midway through the second half, creating a flurry of chances which Dubravka did exceptionally well to keep out.
After denying Fraser and Sarabia with eye-catching saves, Dubravka did well to hold on to Jeanricner Bellegarde’s goalbound header moments later.
But it was too little, too late for O’Neil’s team, who suffered their first away defeat since losing to West Ham on 17 December.
