Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 1 - Report

Analysis

The midfielder nodded home from a corner two minutes from time to score his first goal in Villa colours and earn his side a point, from a game in which they were largely second best.

Tommy Elphick's 28th minute own goal looked likely to be the difference as Villa struggled against their fellow Championship big-guns.

Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini made a number of key saves to keep them in it, before Tshibola struck late on.

The equaliser will have come as a huge relief for Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo, who will perhaps ponder his initial team selection after a largely subdued performance for the first hour.

Newcastle should have been out of sight long before Villa woke from their slumbers but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping meant the hosts were still in the game when they finally began to find their stride in the closing quarter.

And after conceding late levellers in each of their last three home games, this time it was they who struck in the dying minutes to take a point.

The build-up to the game had been dominated by Jack Grealish's latest alleged off-field indiscretion and the 21-year-old was left out of the matchday squad, with the club continuing their investigation into claims he attended an early-hours party at a Birmingham hotel.

Ross McCormack was again missing with a knee injury though Rudy Gestede, who missed the 0-0 draw at Ipswich with a hamstring injury, was on the bench. Albert Adomah was meanwhile handed his first start for the club as Di Matteo tried out a 3-5-2 formation, with Leandro Bacuna slotting into central midfield.

Adomah was in the action quickly, providing the perfect through ball to set Jonathan Kodjia clear. The striker cut inside but saw his shot blocked by former Villa defender Ciaran Clark.

Yet that moment proved the highlight of a sloppy first half for the hosts, who were outplayed by their quicker and slicker opponents. Newcastle's lead might have arrived in fortuitous manner but it was no more than they deserved as they dominated midfield, while Matt Ritchie and the excellent Yoan Gouffran terrorised the home defence.

Indeed, by half-time they were unlucky not to lead by more as Dwight Gayle was twice denied, first by Nathan Baker and then by Gollini, after the shaky Elphick had given possession away.

Villa, horribly disjointed and lacking ideas during the opening half, switched to a more recognisable 4-5-1 after the break, with Tshibola introduced to beef up the midfield.

Yet still it was the visitors who continued to dominate and Mo Diame should have increased the lead, only to shoot wide from eight yards out.

Villa finally began to find some momentum in their final quarter. Mile Jedinak had a goal chalked off by a linesman's flag before Jordan Ayew hit the post after a superb run.

The latter then provided the corner which Tshibola nodded home as Villa recorded a fourth straight home draw. This one, however, was most certainly a point gained.

Key moments

5 - Adomah is in the action early as his through ball releases Kodjia down the right. The striker tries to cut inside onto his left foot and his shot is blocked.

14- Jonjo Shelvey fires a free-kick straight at Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini. Moments later, Matt Ritchie lets fly for the visitors but his shot takes a deflection off Nathan Baker on its way past the post.

25 - Newcastle are on top and Gollini is called into action to save from Ritchie. Mo Diame then fires over from ten yards when well placed.

28 - GOAL - The visitors take the lead and it is a nightmare for Elphick, who turns DeAndre Yedlin's cross into his own net.

34 - A great last-ditch challenge from Baker prevents Gayle from making it two with the striker about to pull the trigger from close range. Replays show the defender got the faintest of touches

36 - Another let-off for Villa as Elphick dawdles and Gayle is left one-on-one with Gollini. The keeper stands tall to save.

54 - Gollini is called into action again. This time keeping out a long range effort from Jonjo Shelvey.

63 - Diame squanders a great chance to make it 2-0 when he side-foots Shelvey's cross wide from eight yards out.

68 - Jedinak thinks he has an equaliser for Villa but a linesman's flag means his looping header is chalked off.

70 - Gestede heads wide from Bacuna's cross as Villa belatedly begin to find some momentum.

72 - Ayew hits the post for Villa after jinking past three defenders. Villa suddenly with their tails up.

88 - GOAL Tshibola heads home at the far post as Villa salvage a draw.

Man of the match

Jordan Ayew - the ringleader of Villa's revival. Hit the post and gave his team some attacking impetus.

Position in the Championship

17th, up one

Teams

Villa (3-5-2, then 4-5-1) Gollini, Chester, Elphick, Baker (Tshibola HT), Adomah (Gestede 63), Bacuna, Jedinak, Westwood (Hepburn-Murphy 84), Amavi, Ayew, Kodjia Subs not used: Richards, Hutton, Cissokho, Bunn.

Goal: Tshibola 88.

Newcastle (4-4-1-1): Sels, Yedlin (Tiote 75), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle Subs not used: Newcastle subs: Lazaar, Hanley, Atsu, Perez, Mbemba, Darlow (gk).

Goal: Elphick og 28.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Ashton).