Rafa sub shout saves point... but clock’s

a win. At least there was some tiny respite for 51,000-plus Toon Army footsoldiers when substitute Joselu rescued a point with a 68th-minute goal to cancel out Jordan Ayew’s opener on the hour.

It was Newcastle’s first league goal at St James’ Park since December 9.

But once again manager Rafa Benitez was left to lament missed chances, and what he might achieve if the club’s stay-away owner loosened the purse strings just enough to give him a fighting chance.

Spaniard Joselu scored only his fourth goal since a £5million move from Stoke last summer. Benitez said: “The new world of football is very expensive. It is hard for the forwards, because we don’t create a lot of chances, so they have to help us by working hard.

“Could Joselu score more goals? Yes. But if he did he would probably cost £25m.

“We are no closer to signing anyone, so we must look at the players who are here and who are playing.”

With England manager Gareth Southgate in the crowd, Newcastle should have been out of sight before Swansea even attempted to lay a glove on them retaliation.

Dwight Gayle sent one free header too close to Lukasz Fabianski, and planted another into the Leazes Stand, while Paul Dummett crashed a in half-volley over the angle – yet it was Swansea who went in at half-time with more to complain about. Kyle Bartley’s 36th-minute header was directed goalwards by Mike Van der Hoorn and when Mo Diame flicked out an instinctive arm to divert the ball to safety, referee Graham Scott somehow missed the offence. Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal