Newcastle rescued by an own-goal
RAFA BENITEZ breathed a huge sigh of relief last night as his Newcastle side came back from 2-0 down to snatch a point.
A first senior goal from teenager Sam Field seemed to have ended Albion’s 11-game winless Premier League run.
But Jonny Evans put into his own net in the 88th minute to hand Benitez a lifeline after a poor run of form himself.
Field had struck on 56 minutes to add to Hal Robson-Kanu’s opener in first-half stoppage time.
Ciaran Clark’s header for Newcastle ensured a tense finish and, sure enough, luckless Evans ended what would have been a fifth successive defeat for Benitez’s Newcastle.
Salomon Rondon was active early on for the hosts, turning well on halfway and beating two rivals to win a free-kick before failing to meet a Matt Phillips cross. Matt Ritchie then dragged a shot just wide for the visitors after cutting in from the right.
Rondon blasted a West Brom free-kick from 25 yards into the Newcastle wall after more encouraging play from Gary Megson’s men.
There was a let-off for West Brom in the 19th minute when a cross from Ritchie almost led to selfdestruction.
Keeper Ben Foster seemed certain to claim it, only for defender Ahmed Hegazi to obstruct him. Foster spilled the cross and had to rely on Hegazi to clear off the line.
Rondon narrowly failed to meet another
WEST BROM NEWCASTLE
cross by Phillips before going within a whisker of opening the scoring.
He was given room 30 yards from goal to line up a dipping shot which deflected off Karl Darlow’s crossbar.
And Robson-Kanu sent a decent chance wide at the near post under pressure from two defenders.
There was no mistake by RobsonKanu on the stroke of half-time, however, as Evans’ fine pass picked out Kieran Gibbs on the left and his cross was nodded home.
Early in the second half Mikel Merino connected with a crisp shot from the edge of the area for Newcastle but Foster, having parried the effort, gathered at the second attempt.
West Brom then doubled their lead via Field. The goal came courtesy of Rondon’s strong hold-up play and a delicious cross by Phillips.
The two-goal advantage lasted three minutes before Ritchie delivered a corner from the right and Clark rose highest to head past Foster.
But Evans put into his own net to ruin all the good work by the Baggies.
WEST BROM (3-5-2):