Viduka spares Magpies' blushes
Last-gasp strike from Viduka gave Newcastle United a 2-2 draw against Derby County.
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Sunday, 23, Dec 2007 08:03
A last-gasp strike from Mark Viduka gave Newcastle United a 2-2 draw against Derby County at St James Park.
The Rams had twice led through Giles Barnes and Kenny Miller, but Viduka pegged them back with two stunning goals.
The Australian equalised three minutes from time, but it was not enough to prevent a chorus of boos from the Magpies fans at the final whistle.
Viduka returned to the starting line-up for the first time in a month to replace skipper Geremi while winger Damien Duff came on as a second-half substitute after a seven-month lay-off.
Rams boss Paul Jewell made two changes with Steve Howard replacing the injured Matt Oakley and Jay McEveley coming in for Andy Griffin. Defender Claude Davis injured himself in the warm-up and was replaced by Eddie Lewis.
In a frenetic first-half, the Rams stunned the home side by taking the lead when Barnes rifled a 20-yard shot into the corner on five minutes.
But the Magpies were desperately unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Tyrone Mears crashed into Alan Smith as he was preparing to shoot on 12 minutes.
Sam Allardyce's side continued to dominate with Barnes hacking Obafemi Martins' header off the line on 25 minutes. And their possession was rewarded two minutes later when Viduka fired a breathtaking low strike from 20 yards into the net.
Eleven minutes before the break, goalkeeper Stephen Bywater was forced into a fine save to keep out Charles N'Zogbia's swerving shot.
The visitors took the lead at the start of the second half when Scotland striker Miller nutmegged David Rozehnal and fired a shot in from 14 yards out, only the Rams' third goal on their travels this season.
Tempers erupted on 65 minutes when Viduka claimed his shirt was pulled in the penalty area, with the home side then accusing Darren Moore of feigning injury after he collapsed in the box.
The home fans cheered the substitution of Joey Barton being replaced by Turkey playmaker Emre on 74 minutes.
In a pulsating final ten minutes, Martins was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle by McEveley when through on goal.
And Viduka spared the home side's blushes on 87 minutes with a half-volley from 20 yards after Shay Given's long clearance.
However Derby felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Mears went down in the box in the dying minutes.
The result means Allardyce's side move up to tenth place while the Rams remain bottom, six points adrift of 19th-placed Wigan.