THAT’S ONE EL OF A WAY TO SAY THANKS
Sub stuns old boss Bruce
AHMED ELMOHAMADY has a fine way of repaying the man who gave him his chance in English football.
Steve Bruce signed the Egytpian when he was in charge of Sunderland, Hull and Aston Villa.
So perhaps it was fate that Elmohamady came off the bench to deny him three successive top-flight wins for the first time since he was Wigan boss a decade ago.
Both goals were made and scored by substitutes.
Dwight Gayle netted his first Toon goal in 25 months moments after coming on with a fine finish from a tight angle after Andy Carroll had swept the ball into his path.
It looked game over. Newcastle had not conceded a league goal at home since New Year’s Day, while Villa brightest spell was long over. But the Magpies did not have a monopoly on supersubs. When Conor Hourihane swung over a corner, Elmohamady’s flick at the near post caught out Martin Dubravka, whose view was blocked by Jonjo Shelvey.
It was a decent point for the visitors but with a daunting fixture list ahead, hardly a good result. They are staring relegation in the face.
Newcastle go into Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester City with just two defeats in 14 games. Villa looked the sharper before the break and will be kicking themselves they did not make that count.
On six minutes, Trezeguet ghosted in beyond the far post to meet Ezri Konsa’s delivery but he could not keep his half-volley down.
Then Mbwana Samatta was on the end of Anwar El Ghazi’s chip but his finish was wide of a gaping target.
The Geordies only began to threaten when Allan Saint-Maximin switched to the right. In fact, they had their first shot on target in the
42nd minute when the Frenchman set up Matt Ritchie, whose firecracker stung the hands of Orjan Nyland.
Though Trezeguet sent a diving header wide, it was the Magpies who were asking all the questions on the restart, with Miguel Almiron’s effort deflected wide and Saint-Maximin’s piledriver fizzing just off target.
Gayle’s first senior goal since scoring for West Brom against Villa in May last year looked to have sealed it until Elmohamady struck in the 83rd minute.
TOON (4-5-1): Dubravka 5; Manquillo 6, Lascelles 7, Fernandez 6, Rose 6; Ritchie 6 (Gayle 67), Shelvey 7, Hayden 6 (Bentaleb 86), Saint-Maximin 7, Almiron 5 (Lazaro 86); Joelinton 6 (Carroll 64). Goal: Gayle 68.
VILLA (4-5-1): Nyland 6; Konsa 7 (Elmohamady 77), Hause 6, Mings 8, Targett 6; Trezeguet 6 (Davis 70), Douglas Luiz 5, Grealish 7, McGinn 7 (Nakamba 77), El Ghazi 6 (Hourihane 70); Samatta 5.
Goal: Elmohamady 83.