Willock scores late to hand struggling Newcastle a draw against Spurs
Relegation-threatened Newcastle United held Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-2 draw after a late equaliser from substitute Joe Willock at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Aston Villa rallied to beat Fulham 3-1 and Southampton beat Burnley 3-2.
Joe Willock equalises for Newcastle against Spurs.Credit:Getty Images
The result leaves Spurs in fifth with 49 points, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, but West Ham United can go above both of their London rivals into the Champions League spots if they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers away on Monday.
It also marked the sixth time Spurs have failed to win a league game this season when they were leading at halftime.
The result left Newcastle three points above third-bottom Fulham, who lost 3-1 at Aston Villa and have played a game more.
Harry Kane gave Tottenham the lead with two goals in four minutes in the first half after Joelinton’s opener for Newcastle before Arsenal loanee Willock struck to earn a point.
“Whenever you’re ahead in a game, as we have been a lot this season, and you give the lead away in the last five to 10 minutes, it’s always hard to take,” Kane told BBC Sport.
Newcastle took the lead after 28 minutes when sustained pressure saw them win the ball back and Sean Longstaff found Joelinton at the far post for the Brazilian to fire home.
However, the advantage lasted barely 90 seconds as Spurs hit back when Kane capitalised on a ricochet from Giovani Lo Celso’s pass and tapped into an empty net two minutes later.
England striker Kane doubled the visitors’ lead in the 34th when he peeled off his marker to receive Tanguy Ndombele’s through ball before pulling the trigger with a low, angled shot past goalkeeper Martin Dubravka into the far corner of the net.
Spurs were quieter in the second half as Newcastle grew into the game but Kane had a golden opportunity to score a hat-trick on a counter-attack but his effort hit the woodwork.
“I feel like we could have played better in the second half. We were a bit sloppy. We didn’t take our chances and got punished for it,” Kane added.
Newcastle’s perseverance finally paid off in the 85th minute when Willock pounced on a rebound at the back post to equalise after Tottenham failed to clear Joelinton’s header.
“I’m an Arsenal player so it does makes it a bit sweeter,” Willock, who came on in the 79th minute, said. “(Manager Steve Bruce) told me to come on, run around and get in the box to try and score goals. I’m happy I was able to do that.”
Villa too good for Fulham
Trezeguet came off the bench to score two goals in three minutes as Aston Villa rallied late for a 3-1 win over Fulham to leave the beaten visitors in the relegation zone.
Fulham looked on course to climb out of the bottom three at the expense of Newcastle when Aleksandar Mitrovic continued his scoring form from the international break, netted in the 61st minute after pouncing on an under-hit back pass by Tyrone Mings.
Mings made amends by crossing for Trezeguet to turn in the equaliser in the 78th and the winger doubled his tally by volleying in a cross from substitute Keinan Davis, who had dispossessed Tosin Adarabioyo.
Ollie Watkins completed the turnaround in the 87th as Villa managed to win without captain and star midfielder Jack Grealish, who felt discomfort in the team’s final training session before the game to prevent him returning from a shin injury.
Mitrovic scored five goals in three games for Serbia over the international break. It was his first league goal for Fulham since his double against Leeds in September.
Reuters, AP
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