West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Newcastle United - The Magpies have stopped the rot

A very dull first half saw few goalscoring opportunities created by either side.

Jacob Murphy had the first sight of goal, but his strike from 35 yards sailed miles over the bar.

There were many free-kicks awarded to both sides, but neither could take full advantage. Florian Lejeune attempted a shot from distance, but it was tame and went straight into the West Brom wall. Salomon Rondon then did the same at the other end.

The Baggies keeper, Ben Foster, almost cost his team dearly when he totally fumbled a Matt Ritchie cross, but luckily for him, Ahmed Hegazi was there to save his blushes and clear.

Newcastle then had a scare of their own, when Rondon winded up a fierce 40-yard strike, that rattled the top of the crossbar. That would have been excellent.

Ritchie tried his luck with a low free-kick, but the ball trickled wide of the near post. That was as close as Newcastle came.

The home side had the best chance of the game when Hal Robson-Kanu found himself in space, four yards out, but his header was weak and easily saved by Karl Darlow, who returned to the XI in place of Rob Elliot.

The forward didn't have to wait too much longer for his goal though. On the stroke of half-time, a cross-field ball picked out Kieron Gibbs down the left, who centered for Robson-Kanu, and this time his header hit the back of the net. 1-0.

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Newcastle come out at the start of the second half and came close to grabbing an early equalizer. Murphy got down the wing and crossed, and the headed clearance fell to Mikel Merino, who volleyed towards goal, but Foster made the save.

Then, West Brom seemingly had put the game to bed. A dangerous cross from the right was totally missed by the Magpies defenders, but young Sam Field arrived late to slot home. 2-0.

A period of madness, as no sooner than Newcastle had fallen two goals behind, they were back in it. Matt Ritchie finally got his cross right from a corner and Ciaran Clark rose highest to head in. 2-1.

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Moments later again, it was a chance at the other end. Robson-Kanu was in and he would have thought he had killed the game off, only for Darlow to deny him from close range.

Rolando Aarons was introduced by Rafa Benitez for the final half hour of the game, and he did well to find Ritchie in the box, who had a shot saved by Foster. Ayoze Perez was then caught offside when he tried to get on the end of the rebound.

The Spaniard then tried a shot from the edge of the area, which bounced just in front of the keeper, but he did well to keep hold of it.

Newcastle won a free-kick on the edge of the area, and it was Ritchie who took it. His shot took a huge deflection off of Jonny Evans, and went into the West Brom net. 2-2.

Newcastle thought they had the winner with minutes remaining. DeAndre Yedlin was played in marvellously by the substitute Jonjo Shelvey, and his cut-back was slotted home by Aleksandar Mitrovic, but offside had already been given.

The Magpies pushed and pushed for a late winner, but nothing materialised.

Not a win, but a point away from home is always a positive result. That comeback could prove absolutely massive for the confidence of the players. They had to stop the rot, and they did.