Ten-man Newcastle claim point against City
Ameobi got his first goal in two years for Newcastle
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Monday, 20, Oct 2008 11:06
10-man Newcastle were held to a 2-2 draw with Manchester City at St James' Park.
It took a Stephen Ireland equaliser with just four minutes to go to deny the home side a victory.
Joe Kinnear's men were a goal down and a man down after just 12 minutes, but turned in the kind of resilient display which has been so sorely missing in recent months.
The sending-off came after when Robinho latched onto a clever Shaun Wright-Phillips pass. Habib Beye made a desperate last-ditch tackle on the Brazilian and clearly made contact with the ball.
Referee Rob Styles saw it differently and pointed to the spot and issued the Newcastle defender with a straight red card. Robinho sent Shay Given the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Though they had plenty of possession, City failed to make the most of their numerical advantage and gradually the home side fought their way back into the game.
Damien Duff should have equalised 10 minutes before half-time but he placed his shot far too close to Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal after being brilliantly set-up by Shola Ameobi.
They equalised just before the break when Richard Dunne's clearance ricocheted into the path of Ameobi, who seemed to slice his shot but it found its way past Hart and into the corner of the net. It was Ameobi's first goal in two years.
Newcastle went ahead just after the hour when the hapless Dunne turned a Geremi corner into his own net.
Mark Hughes threw on forwards Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge in a bid to rescue the game, as City threw everything they had at the Newcastle defence.
Given was at his best to stop a brilliantly-struck Stephen Ireland volley with seven minutes remaining, but could do nothing about Ireland's smart finish two minutes later.
Ireland very nearly won it for the visitors in the dying minutes but slipped his shot past the post.
Newcastle hung on for a well-earned point, and have now come from behind to draw both Kinnear's games in charge 2-2.