EPL: Newcastle, Swansea City share spoil

Joselu came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 draw for Newcastle United against bottom-of-the-table Swansea City at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Jordan Ayew had headed the visitors into the lead on the hour mark, but Joselu equalised within three minutes of his introduction to salvage the Magpies a point.

Nevertheless, Rafael Benitez’s side are now winless in seven home league matches, and that form will need to improve if they are to stay clear of relegation.

Newcastle had a couple of chances in the opening 20 minutes as Gayle headed wide from a cross from Perez, who shot straight at Lucasz Fabianski from a through-ball from his strike partner.

Defender Paul Dummett then joined in a Newcastle attack, feeding Christian Atsu down the left and continuing his run to meet a return pass with a sweet left-footed shot which whistled over the crossbar.

While Swansea had a greater share of possession, the Magpies had more cutting edge and Matt Ritche opened up the visiting defence with a lofted pass from which Perez forced a strong save from Fabianski.

Swansea could have had a penalty for handball against Mohamed Diame on 36 minutes, when the midfielder moved his arm in the direction of the ball to block an effort from Mike van der Hoorn.

There were not too many complaints to referee Graham Scott from Swansea players, but they may have felt aggrieved had a poacher’s finish from Gayle two minutes later not been ruled out for offside.

With Newcastle having failed to find the net in six of their last seven home league games and Swansea the poorest attack in the division, a stalemate seemed likely before two goals in eight minutes.

The home defence allowed Ayew two free headers in the box and, after Karl Darlow saved the initial effort with a diving save, the Ghana international forward nodded the rebound into a vacant net.

Swansea would have moved to within two points of safety with victory, but their lead lasted only eight minutes as Joselu took advantage of space afforded to him by Alfie Mawson to find the bottom corner on 68 minutes.