Joel Veltman’s first goal for 14 months earned Albion a deserved point at St James’ Park which lifted us back into the top half of the Premier League table with two games to go.
The Dutchman’s close-range finish was reward for an excellent first 45 by Roberto De Zerbi’s team, which was spoiled somewhat when Veltman had to go off and Sean Longstaff equalised with the last kick of the half.
Newcastle created the better chances in the second half but Albion’s defence held firm while offering a threat on the break through the pace of Simon Adingra and Julio Enciso. Behind them Billy Gilmour and Pascal Gross impressed with their work-rate and Adam Webster had another very good afternoon alongside Lewis Dunk.
The frustrating thing from an Albion perspective was Newcastle’s goal with the last kick of the first half should have done nothing more than get them back in the game rather than the equaliser.
For much of the opening 45 Albion were in control, as they produced their best football for some time away from home.
There was an early warning for Newcastle when Enciso turned Tino Livramento on the halfway line and sped down the left. His cross was cleared but Enciso and Adingra’s pace and interchanges continually stretched the home defence.
Yet is was a simple set piece that brought Albion their goal on 18 minutes. Pascal Gross’s delivery on the right was flicked on by Danny Welbeck and Veltman got in ahead of his marker to prod the ball past Martin Dubravka and two defenders on the line. It was his only his fourth goal for the club and first away from the Amex.
There should have been more as Albion dominated. Dubravka grabbed the ball just before Welbeck could latch onto a defence-splitting pass by Enciso; Adingra raced into open ground and cut inside but his shot trickled disappointingly wide and when he found space again his chip picked out the unmarked Enciso, who could have taken a touch but opted for a header that sailed over.
At the other end Bart Verbruggen made a crucial one-handed save to deny Alexander Isak and Veltman limped off but just when it looked as if Albion would get to the break with a lead Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall combined down the left and the unmarked Longstaff swept Hall’s cut-back into the net.
Newcastle upped the tempo at the start of the second half and Verbruggen stretched his frame to tip the ball onto the roof of the net after Isak nipped in ahead of Tariq Lamptey. But Albion were still a threat on the counter through Adingra down the left and Enciso driving through the middle, but on a couple of occasions they squandered good situations with a poor final pass.
In the closing stages both teams looked tired and it looked increasingly like one goal would win it.
Bruno Guimares was leaning back when he lifted a shot from 12 yards over the bar, Harvey Barnes fired straight at Verbruggen when he had more time and space than he thought before Gordon rolled Miguel Almiron’s cut-back into an empty net from an offside position. When Gordon’s appeals for a late penalty were ignored it summed up Newcastle’s frustrations but Albion were worth a point.
Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman (Lamptey 40), Webster, Dunk, Julio, Gross, Gilmour (Baleba 88), Buonanotte (Baker-Boaitey 67), Enciso (Moder 67), Adingra (Offiah 88), Welbeck.
Subs not used: Steele, Lallana, Fati, O’Mahony.
Referee: Darren England
Attendance: 51997
Match report in association with SnickersUK.com