West Brom 1-1 Newcastle

Newcastle's lingering relegation fears continued after they were held to a draw by West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Yoan Gouffran's glanced header from Papiss Cisse's cross put the Magpies in front, while the visitors wasted a number of chances to extend their lead.

Baggies striker Romelu Lukaku's header hit the crossbar before Billy Jones slid in a left-foot shot to equalise.

Newcastle hung on for a draw and are six points above 18th-placed Wigan, having played an extra game.

Aston Villa, who are a place below Newcastle in 17th, play their game in hand against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday.

Newcastle have only won once away in the league this season and should have made more of their first-half dominance before surviving several scares after the break.

West Brom were worthy of the draw but manager Steve Clarke will be unhappy at a lacklustre first-half display.

The Baggies knew they would have to be wary of a backlash from a Newcastle side beaten by derby rivals Sunderland last Sunday but Clarke's side went behind after eight minutes.

Yohan Cabaye slipped a pass to striker Papiss Cisse and he sent a ball in for Gouffran to glance past keeper Ben Foster, who was caught halfway between his goal-line and coming for the cross.

Midfielder Cabaye's vision and industry was key to his side's play and the French international twice went close with well-struck long-range strikes as one dipped just high and the other was saved.

Newcastle centre-back Steven Taylor was also played in on goal by a delicate Gouffran pass, only for Foster to quickly come out and smother the close-range effort.

West Brom's troubles were not helped when centre-back Jonas Olsson's back pass put Cisse in on goal, although the Swedish international's blushes were saved when the Magpies forward chipped over the bar.

The home side rarely threatened but might have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Referee Mike Jones awarded a free-kick for a James Perch challenge on Billy Jones, even though the offence took place just inside the area.

Mike Jones made the decision after consulting his assistant, with Newcastle's players arguing that Perch made contact with the ball before the Baggies right-back.

The hosts were a different side after the break and a Lukaku header from Chris Brunt's corner came back off the crossbar before Newcastle eventually buckled.

Lukaku had his back to goal as he gathered a James Morrison pass, before Billy Jones pinched the ball off his toes and slid a left-foot shot past Elliot to become West Brom's first English goalscorer this season.

A Morrison header was tipped over the bar by Elliot before Newcastle's defence held firm for a point.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew:

"We have to keep working and make sure we secure our place in this division because we will be a threat next year when we get everybody back.

"I'm very pleased [with the point] because this is a tough place to come. We wouldn't let them play in the first half and should have, perhaps, had two goals before half-time. We had the energy that we didn't last week [in the defeat by Sunderland] and it was a massive difference for us.

"Technically we might have been better but I couldn't fault our commitment and desire."

West Brom boss Steve Clarke:

"I was a bit concerned we had only played two games in 34 days and I think that showed at the start.

"Newcastle picked up the game much quicker than we did. In the first half they were better than us.

"On another day they could have got a second goal and it would have made it more difficult for us, but they didn't and it gave us the avenue back into the game, which I think we grabbed with both hands. Second half we were much, much better."