Andy Carroll, who shot Newcastle to promotion, is already proving a handful for Premier League defences and his fourth goal of the season earned Newcastle a deserved point at Molineux, where Wolves emerged from a red-blooded scrap relieved to have extended their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, like Carroll, is up and running, his second goal in successive league games earning Wolves their point from a bruising battle littered with a dozen yellow cards. Both these teams would be happy to finish in the 15th place Wolves managed last season and, on this evidence, they will be unlucky to fare any better. That said, significant reinforcement before the transfer window closes could yet change the situation, of course.

Newcastle made the more confident, assertive start, but the best chance of a high tempo, combative opening saw Ebanks-Blake head against the far post, close in, from David Jones’ inswinging corner from the right.

Early on, when the force was with Chris Hughton’s team, they spurned two promising openings. Wayne Routledge rounded Marcus Hahnemann, only for his cross from the byline on the left to defeat Kevin Nolan, who did no better when, set up by Carroll’s knock-down, he sidefooted straight at the goalkeeper at whites-of-the-eyes range.

The busy, bustling Carroll should have given Newcastle the lead after 41 minutes when, put in by Nolan’s short pass, he contrived to shovel his shot over the bar. Such was his frustration that he was booked for one curse too many. It was a bad miss, made all the more capable when Wolves went straight down the other end and scored. Jelle van Damme’s long pass supplied Ebanks-Blake, who outmuscled James Perch and hooked the ball home at it fell from eight yards.

Anxious to atone, Carroll did so after 61 minutes, when he headed in Joey Barton’s long, lofted free-kick from the left, via the near post. Almost immediately, Newcastle would have been ahead but for the reflex save with which Hahnemann repelled Nolan’s volley from near the penalty spot, Routledge having prised Wolves wide open with a run and cross from the right.

But both sides will be reasonably pleased with a point.

Premier LeagueWolverhampton WanderersNewcastle UnitedJoe Lovejoyguardian.co.uk

Fulham’s season of roses is nearing its defining moment. Having secured this point from Wolves they now concentrate on Thursday’s opening leg of their Europa League semi-final with Hamburg. Prosper in Germany and Roy Hodgson’s gang will have every chance of making the final, which will also be played at the home ground of Kevin Keegan’s old club, next month.

Hodgson had been honest enough to say before this match that he had his eye on Thursday’s encounter, yet the manager still plumped for a full-strength side bar Brede Hangeland, who was given the afternoon off.

The big central defender was hardly missed. As they have regularly done at the Cottage this term Fulham dominated their opponents for the game’s majority, though Wolves had their chances.

Bobby Zamora, the 19-goal prospective England man, began proceedings with a skimming header from a Danny Murphy free-kick which worried Marcus Hahnemann.

McCarthy’s team had arrived hoping to increase their 33-point tally so that another season among the big boys would move ever closer. As the half-hour approached they had managed a few corners and to occasionally park themselves in Fulham’s half, but already this was an encounter meandering in the west London sun.

This made the game’s most intriguing narrative strand whether Fulham would emerge having suffered no casualties, ahead of their European quest. Aaron Hughes offered Hodgson a momentary scare when appearing to twist a knee near Mark Schwarzer’s goal as half-time neared, but the central defender was able to continue.

Minutes into the restart Wolves’ David Jones delivered a corner that sliced through the penalty area, but past his waiting team-mates. Damien Duff later dallied too long to get a shot away in front of Hahnemann’s goal, allowing the defence to recover. Zamora came closest to a goal when he unloaded a right-foot shot midway through the second half but could only strike Wolves’ left post.

Premier LeagueFulhamWolverhampton WanderersJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk