Source: Northern_Echo
Newcastle extend unbeaten run with draw at Hillsborough
NEWCASTLE extended their unbeaten run to ten matches this afternoon, but the Championship leaders threw away a one-goal advantage to draw 2-2 for the second away match in succession.[LNB] Goals from Kevin Nolan and Shola Ameobi looked to have put the Magpies into a winning position following an early opener from Sheffield Wednesday forward Luke Varney.[LNB] But the Owls responded with a second-half goal from James O'Connor, and Newcastle would have been pleased to leave Hillsborough with a point after an entertaining encounter that swung one way, then the other, then back again.[LNB] Wednesday enjoyed the best of the early stages, and the hosts' dominance in the opening quarter-of-an-hour left Newcastle as rattled as they have appeared for the vast majority of the season.[LNB] Steven Taylor was forced to produce three blocks inside the opening three minutes, but the centre-half was helpless as the hosts claimed the lead.[LNB] Darren Potter rolled the ball to O'Connor on the right, and after the midfielder chipped a cross into the area, Varney rose unopposed to head home from eight yards.[LNB] An instant response was required, and the Magpies delivered it when they levelled the scores just five minutes later.[LNB] Danny Guthrie broke down the right, and when the midfielder delivered a pinpoint centre, Nolan was on hand to head home his 11th goal of the season.[LNB] Three minutes later, and the visitors were ahead. Jonas Gutierrez cut the ball back to Ameobi, and after turning inside defender Darren Purse, the Newcastle striker lashed a 20-yard drive past Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant.[LNB] The goal had an element of fortune about it, however, as Ameobi came back from an offside position before picking the ball up from Gutierrez.[LNB] Newcastle's dominance did not last, however, as Wednesday claimed a deserved equaliser shortly before the hour mark after dominating the early stages of the second half.[LNB] The goal owed much to a rare error from Steve Harper, with Varney beating the United goalkeeper to Tommy Spurr's cross. Varney's header hit the crossbar, but James O'Connor was on hand to tap home the rebound from close range.[LNB] Harper's failure to collect the cross was costly, but the Easington-born shot stopper atoned with a fine save six minutes later, flinging himself to his right to turn Marcus Tudgay's diving header around the post.[LNB] SHEFF WED (4-5-1): Grant; Simek, Purse, Beevers, Spurr; Varney (Clarke 69), O'Connor, Potter, Soares, Johnson (Esajas 62); Tudgay.[LNB] Subs (not used): O'Donnell (gk), Buxton, Hinds, Gray, Jeffers.[LNB] NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Coloccini, S Taylor, Enrique; Guthrie, Butt, Nolan, Gutierrez (Pancrate 64); Harewood (Lovenkrands 84), Ameobi (Carroll 73).[LNB] Subs (not used): Krul (gk), Kadar, R Taylor, Ranger.[LNB]
