Evans’ own goal completes Toon comeback
NEWCASTLE ended a run of four straight defeats after coming back from 2-0 down to claim a gutsy point against West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Jonny Evans’ late own goal earned the visitors a 2-2 draw after Ciaran Clark had begun a second-half revival.
Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Field put Albion in command but their winless run now stretches to an incredible 13 games in all competitions.
Alan Pardew is expected to be appointed the Baggies’ new boss as early as today after they sacked Tony Pulis.
It took until the 19th minute for either side to threaten and when Newcastle did, Ahmed Hegazi and Ben Foster almost gifted them a goal, defender Hegazi heading the ball away from a scrambling Foster.
There had been little threat from the Baggies but Salomon Rondon’s dipping effort from 30 yards clipped the bar.
Darlow then claimed Robson-Kanu’s weak header before Albion’s Wales international prodded wide under pressure.
The hosts went ahead when Kieran Gibbs picked out Robson-Kanu at the far post to head in from two yards.
Albion then doubled their lead 11 minutes after the restart.
Matt Phillips was given time to cross from the right and found the unmarked Field to volley in his first senior goal.
Yet Albion’s two-goal lead lasted just three minutes as Clark crashed in a far-post header.
Robson-Kanu shot straight at Darlow soon after but Newcastle earned a point with seven minutes left when Ritchie’s driven free-kick struck Evans and beat Foster. PREMIER League strugglers Crystal Palace picked up their first away point of the season with a goalless draw at bitter rivals Brighton.
Roy Hodgson’s bottom-of-thetable Eagles edged a tight contest at a sold-out Amex Stadium but they were unable to make a breakthrough.
Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha went closest for Palace when they were thwarted in quick succession by a superb double save from Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan, while Brighton striker Glenn Murray had a late header blocked on the line by Andros Townsend.