EPL: Newcastle battle back to hold Man City

Newcastle recovered from Sergio Aguero’s controversial goal to earn a valuable draw with Manchester City.
Aguero was offside when he headed in Aleksandar Kolarov’s free-kick.
Vurnon Anita equalised with a low curling shot before Magpies keeper Karl Darlow excellently saved Jesus Navas and Kevin de Bruyne strikes.
City keeper Joe Hart saved from Georginio Wijnaldum late on as Newcastle remain in the bottom three just behind Sunderland and Norwich.
Hart rushed out to block from Wijnaldum to deny the home side a winner which would have lifted them out of the relegation zone.
Newcastle are now one point a and a place behind Sunderland and two adrift of the Canaries, who lie just outside the relegation zone.
‘BBC Radio 5 live’ summariser Alan Shearer believes Newcastle would have stayed up had they appointed Rafael Benitez earlier and the Spaniard has certainly added some steel and discipline to the Magpies.
United had not beaten City in their last 18 league games, losing the last 12, and the three points they needed to move out of the drop zone appeared unlikely.
The home fans might have feared the worst when Aguero’s goal was allowed to stand but their team responded with the type of character and commitment they have been lacking for much of the campaign, reports the BBC.
Andros Townsend’s work-rate and desire to track back and get forward on the right set the example to his team-mates and the ovation he received when substituted showed the Magpies faithful appreciated his efforts.
The left side of Manchester City’s defence appeared to be a weakness and is where the home side’s equaliser came from, with Anita cutting in and curling in a shot off the post for his first goal since March 2014.
Whether Benitez can now maintain his side’s improvement and steer them to safety in their final four games – which are against Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Tottenham – remains to be seen.