IF Tuesday night was the sublime, then this was Newcastle United at their most ridiculous. Only the Magpies could go from a club-record performance to their worst display of the season in the space of four days.

Superb against QPR, Rafael Benitez’s side were shocking as they slipped to a deserved defeat to Wolves. Everything that was right at Loftus Road malfunctioned on home soil, and the afternoon served as a stark reality check to temper some of the loftier predictions that were being liberally thrown around last Tuesday.

Having lost three of their opening eight Championship matches, this is not a Newcastle side that is about to run away with the second-tier title.

“When I said the other day there was plenty of room for improvement, I think some people were surprised,” said Benitez, after his side were beaten by a first-half own goal from Chancel Mbemba and a second-half strike from Wolves forward Helder Costa. “But now you can see that we have to improve.

“It’s a reminder for everyone - for us, for players, for fans, for everyone – that we have to stick together until the end because it will not be so easy.”

It certainly didn’t look easy on Saturday as Newcastle capitulated despite facing a Wolves side that had been conceding four goals on home soil as the Magpies ran riot at QPR.

Why were things so different to Tuesday night? Perhaps complacency was a factor, although a more compelling argument is that Wolves’ energetic, high-pressing approach knocked Newcastle’s creative players off their stride.

Four days earlier, Jonjo Shelvey had been granted the freedom of Loftus Road as he strolled around firing 50-yard passes into the feet of his forwards. That was never the case at the weekend, with Wolves midfielder Prince Oniangue in particular sticking close to him at every opportunity, and Shelvey was nothing like as effective as a result.

Similarly, while Ayoze Perez had been able to punch gaping holes through a sometimes non-existent QPR defence, he found himself smothered by a Wolves side who regularly pulled all ten outfield players behind the ball.

Whereas Newcastle had counter-attacked effectively in West London, this time it was Wolves’ players galloping forward to turn defence in attack. Their opponents’ attacking, in contrast, was pedestrian and predictable, with far too many futile long balls aimed in the direction of lone striker Dwight Gayle.

Gayle’s finishing ability is his greatest asset, but when faced with a well-stacked opposition defence, the striker can often become anonymous. Aleksandar Mitrovic, with his aerial ability and more muscular approach, could well prove a better option if teams continue to travel to St James’ Park intent on packing out their backline.

There was also a lack of pace to Newcastle’s play at the weekend, with Mo Diame offering next-to-nothing from the pivotal ‘number ten’ role. The former Hull and West Ham midfielder is not really the type of player who will burst beyond his centre-forward, but nor is he an exceptional passer able to thread a ball through a well-drilled defence. The Magpies needed guile to break down the Wolves back four, but apart from an occasional dangerous delivery from Matt Ritchie, what they got was a lot of huffing and puffing to precious little effect.

“We had more space at Queens Park Rangers,” admitted Benitez. “I said after that game, we won’t always get that space to run in behind.  We have to manage the ball and the game in different ways, and that’s something we have to improve.”

Newcastle’s game management was poor throughout their defeat, and it was alarming that neither the players nor the manager were able to change the course of the game after it became clear the initial plan was not working.

That said, however, the Magpies might still have been able to claim something from the game had a couple of elementary errors not proved costly.

Wolves’ opening goal was the direct result of a dreadful defensive error, with Mbemba heading Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s right-wing cross into his own net despite being under minimal pressure close to the edge of his own six-yard box.

Bodvarsson, who had struck the crossbar with an earlier effort, was a threat all afternoon, but having gone 524 minutes without conceding, Mbemba’s own goal was a particularly hapless way for Newcastle’s resolute run to end.

Wolves’ second goal was equally as disappointing from a home perspective, with Perez being brushed aside far too easily in his own half and Jamaal Lascelles failing to close down Costa as he cruised towards the area before curling into the bottom corner.

Newcastle’s best chance of getting back into the game disappeared when Mitrovic shot straight at Karl Ikeme, and their misery was complete when Vurnon Anita was dismissed for a lunge at Ivan Cavaleiro with three minutes left.

“It wasn’t even a foul,” claimed Benitez. “I don’t know if we can appeal it, but I think everybody can see. Hopefully, we won’t lose him for three games.”