Chancel Mbemba's first half own goal gave the visitors the lead at St. James' Park before Helder Costa doubled the advantage midway through the second period.

And the Magpies' misery was compounded by a late red card for full-back Vurnon Anita.

Jonjo Shelvey, Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle all went close for the hosts in the first period, but Wolves also posed a real threat, particularly through Iceland international Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

And it was his cross that Mbemba headed into his own net just before the half-hour mark.

United pushed forward in search of an equaliser in the second half but had little to show for their efforts, and it was Wanderers who snatched the second goal of the afternoon when Costa was given time and space to curl home from the edge of the area.

Anita saw red with time ticking away for a foul on Ivan Cavaleiro as Newcastle tasted defeat for the first time in five weeks.

A lively opening saw Shelvey pull the trigger from distance inside the opening five minutes but, unlike his stunner at Queens Park Rangers in midweek, the England international failed to get the power and placement behind his effort to trouble Carl Ikeme.

At the other end, Romain Sass connected with a right-wing corner but nodded powerfully over the top, before Bodvarsson was denied twice in the space of 30 seconds during a manic scramble, first by Matz Sels and then by the crossbar as United escaped.

Wolves were having the better of the first half but, on 22 minutes, their goalkeeper Ikeme pulled off a fantastic stop to prevent Perez breaking the deadlock.

Neat interplay down the right between Gayle and Ritchie saw the latter cut the ball back to the far side of the area. Perez strode onto it and took his shot first time, sending it flying towards the bottom corner until the intervention of Ikeme's fingertips.

That seemed to spark United into life and Gayle was next to threaten, although his goalbound close-range header had the sting taken out of it by a defensive block.

And Wolves promptly went straight down the Gallowgate End and took the lead.

Bodvarsson, who was a key figure in Iceland's successful Euro 2016 campaign, caused problems down the right before delivering a cross which Mbemba - stretching to reach - nodded into his own net.

The visitors soon went in search of a second and with five minutes of the half remaining, Sels had to be at his best to get down to his left and parry away Sass' goalbound free-kick.

Into the second half, there was plenty of huff and puff from United in the opening exchanges without being able to properly test Ikeme.

Gayle headed Vurnon Anita's delivery off target on the hour mark, but a couple of minutes later Wolves doubled their advantage.

Perez lost possession around 30 yards out and Costa was given time and space to stride towards the edge of the area before curling a fine strike beyond the grasp of Sels.

Benitez responded with a double substitution, replacing Ritchie and Isaac Hayden with Christian Atsu and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

And it was the latter who went agonisingly close in the 77th minute, racing onto a loose ball to go through one-on-one but seeing his low shot blocked by the legs of the on-rushing Ikeme.

With time ticking away Shelvey sent a rising free-kick off target but Newcastle's task was made even tougher when they were reduced to ten men.

Anita fouled substitute Cavaleiro near the halfway line and referee Tim Robinson showed the Dutch international a straight red card, much to the surprise of most inside St. James' Park.

And although Atsu and Perez both threatened in stoppage time, the hosts were unable to find a way back into the contest.