Newcastle avoids the defeat in the 94th minute

If someone had offered the Magpies half the spoils before the start of the match, they would hardly have been satisfied. They are desperate for a win.

But 1:1 against Aston Villa, considering the course of the game, can be celebrated as a convincing victory. Because Newcastle escaped the guillotine at St. James Park for the second time. With a loss, the Magpies would give a chance to Brighton and Fulham, who are crawling up from the abyss, to skip them on the Premier League table. The right man at the right place was Jamal Lascelles, who jumped as high as he could in the goal area in the 94th minute brought a point to his team.

Essentially, everything worth mentioning happened after the 80th minute, while until then the game was fairly even and not overly exciting. The Villans just can’t win without their talisman Jack Grealish, and the Magpies just can’t win...period.

Newcastle was the first to have a great chance, and it was Jacob Murphy, just after he entered the game as a substitute. His shot was stopped by an obstacle, from which the ball bounced back into the field. Five minutes later, Aston Villa made a good action, Oli Watkins shot with his head while falling, the ball caught Ciaran Clark, then hit the crossbar and ended up in a goal behind Dubravka.

Newcastle keeper could not do anything there, but after that, he defended two colossal chances of the guests from Birmingham, because more good football was seen from the 84th minute, better than 83 minutes before. Newcastle also had a great chance, after Murphy's shot, the ball was spinning in the goal area, however, Villa's defense managed to hit it far from its net.

And while everyone was waiting for the referee's whistle (even Steve Bruce waited with his head down), Newcastle won a corner, and from the corner - a point for a possible rescue from the Championship.

As a result, the hosts stay 16th in the table, although they are now two points clear of the drop zone, while Dean Smith's side remains in ninth place. Probably a deserved point, but Steve Bruce got a lot wrong in this game. And the captain Lascelles saved his job tonight.

PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 28

Friday

Newcastle - Aston Villa 1-1 (0-0)

/Lascelles 90+4 – Ciaran Clarc 84 (og)/

Saturday

15.30 Leeds - Chelsea

18.00 Crystal Palace - WBA

20.30 Everton - Burnley

23.00 Fulham - Manchester City

Sunday

15.00 Southampton - Brighton

17.00 Leicester - Sheffield Utd

19.30 Arsenal - Tottenham

22.15 Manchester Utd - West Ham