EPL: Newcastle Holds United As Villa Win First Game Since August

A 90th minute strike from Paul Dummett rescued a point for the Magpies as the Red Devils missed the chance to go level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham.

A penalty from skipper, Wayne Rooney and a Jesse Lingard’s finish put the away side 2-0 up before Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty levelled the scores.

The England striker gave Louis Van Gaal’s side the lead from the spot after Mike Dean’s controversial call to award a penalty, before setting up Lingard with a perfectly timed pass.

The relentless home side refused to crumble even at 2-0 down, hitting back soon after Lingard’s goal as Wijnaldum made no mistake from a 12-yard, latching on to Mitrovic’s downward header to pull one back for Steve McClaren’s side, and Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled it up with a penalty in the 67th minute.

Rooney looked to have won it for Man Utd when he restored their lead in the 79th minute, but Dummett fired home in the final minute of normal time to ensure a memorable game finished all square, with united manager, Louis Van Gaal, admitting after the game that his side were unlucky not to have taken all three points.

Speaking to newsmen after the game, the 65-year old said: “I think also we were unlucky. When you see where the ball is going [Dummett’s last minute equaliser] it is going into the hands of De Gea. Before that we are running behind and you have to push forwards, you have to push the ball under pressure, and then you get these kinds of things.

“They have to finish of course but it’s always difficult. Rooney had also a very big chance in the first half. We could have made here six goals I think. There were big possibilities so when you lose two points it’s very sad and everybody knows it is our own fault.

“Now we have given two points away. It is a big game for Man Utd and for Liverpool but now I am still with my mind with this game and yeh… that is not so happy ending.”

But the Newcastle boss, Steve McClaren thought otherwise, saying that his side deserved the point as they worked very hard for it.

“I think we deserved the point. Boring United? They weren’t boring, McClaren said.

“Building and growing, fighting for 90 minutes and tonight we got the rewards.

“People are questioning [the player’s effort] and the players have come through showing fantastic character, especially Coloccini.”

Newcastle remain in 18th place, a point behind 17th place Swansea City, though the draw represents an improved performance following three successive losses and for United it represents two points lost and a step backwards after back-to-back Premier League and FA Cup victories.

Elsewhere, A Joleon Lescott’s header against Crystal Palace was enough for Aston Villa to secure their first win under manager Remi Garde, after 11 matches in charge.

Villa had not won a game since after their 1-0 opening day success at Bournemouth in August.

West Ham United were also big winners on Tuesday night as they defeated Bournemouth 3-1 at Dean Court, which moved Slaven Bilic’s side up to fifth in the Premier League, a point above 6th place Manchester United.