NORMALLY accused of being a belt and braces manager Steve Bruce looked to have decided in his hour of need to take on the recklessness of a Las Vegas gambler.
He called up the Newcastle attackers demanded by rebellious fans, Miggy Almiron and Ryan Fraser, but it was his shock choice of Jacob Murphy that got Bruce out of jail.
Murphy's Premier League career in black and white looked over as he was shunted out on loan down into the Championship until he brought a glimmer of promise to pre-season proceedings.
Having won a squad number Murphy got the call and responded magnificently.
Yes, he scored an invaluable equaliser three minutes from another defeat but throughout the 90 minutes Murphy, playing right wing back, was inventive both in attack and defence. A breath of fresh air amid a sterile match.
And his goal was no fluke. Murphy was cute and had done his homework. He saw a little gap as the Wolves wall lined up badly on a free-kick and he knew keeper Rui Patricio is weak on low whipped shots. Job done by the unlikeliest of heroes.
The outcome? Yet another 1-1 draw at Molineux which has been the result the last three times since Wolves came up to join Newcastle in the top division.
All right, both Karl Darlow and Patricio could have done better on both goals but let us give credit to the scorers Raul Jimenez and Murphy.
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo had hailed Jimenez pre-match as a world class striker. However he had looked anything but that - until the 79th minute.
The Mexican deliberately hung back outside the penalty area on a free-kick which was headed out of a crowded 18 yard box straight to him. One touch and, bang. It was a goal. Darlow got a hand to it but it wasn't a strong one.
At that moment we feared the worst - Wolves had been unbeaten in their last 25 PL matches when they scored the opening goal (W22-D3-L0), since a 2-1 away defeat at Cardiff City on November 30, 2018.
So the game had 1-0 written all over it.
Maybe Wolverhampton retained that record of never losing but only with a draw and the Toon Army will accept that under the circumstances.
To be truthful United played the same way as always despite Bruce gambling on attackers. They defended deep, sacrificed ground and the ball, and tried to attack on the counter. They were second best on possession but stayed in the game because it was played at a pedestrian pace which allowed them to bunch at the back cutting down space.
If the modern way is to press high United play old fashioned dropping off deep to stand shoulder to shoulder, stay rigid, and hope for a break.
Wolves were patient as always, didn't panic, but didn't entertain either. They moved the ball too slowly which helps defenders. To the neutral it was no doubt a bore draw. To Geordies we got out of jail and that is something.
More facts and figures: Murphy's goal rocked Wolves because they had kept seven clean sheets in their last nine home PL matches and it delighted Bruce because his Molineux record is poor - he still hasn't won there in any of the last eight league games his teams have played away to Wolves.
Of course it doesn't get any easier - table toppers Everton next and then moneybags Chelsea. So thanks Jacob!
