Newcastle United 1-1 Swansea City

Joselu is Newcastle's top Premier League goalscorer this season with four

Substitute Joselu scored within four minutes of coming on to earn Newcastle United a draw against bottom side Swansea City.

The visitors, who were denied a first-half penalty when Mohamed Diame appeared to handle the ball, took the lead through Jordan Ayew's header after Karl Darlow had parried his first effort.

But Newcastle equalised eight minutes later when Ayoze Perez's deflected shot fell for Joselu and he shot through the legs of Alfie Mawson and into the net.

Swansea are now four points behind 17th-placed Bournemouth, while Newcastle are now only three points above the relegation zone in 14th.

The Swans nearly grabbed a dramatic winner in injury time but Wilfried Bony's shot was cleared off the goalline by Newcastle's DeAndre Yedlin.

• Relive Newcastle's match with Swansea as it happened

Swansea left angry at penalty decision

Swansea will be disappointed they did not record what would have been only their fifth Premier League win of a difficult season.

Carlos Carvalhal has now taken four points from his opening three league matches in charge since replacing the sacked Paul Clement in December, and also gained an FA Cup third-round replay against Championship leaders Wolves.

However, the Portuguese was unhappy with a controversial decision in an uneventful first half as Diame appeared to move his arm towards the ball after Mike van der Hoorn had flicked it towards goal.

Carvalhal said: "My assistant says it's a very clear penalty and a red card also, so it's another decision that creates something important but what can we do? Nothing, only talk about this.

"This is one of the situations VAR will in the future say clear penalty - it will be clear."

Swansea have struggled for goals all season but took the lead on the hour when Ayew headed at goal following Van der Hoorn's fine cross from the right flank.

Newcastle goalkeeper Darlow produced a one-handed save to parry Ayew's first header, but the Ghanaian pounced from the rebound to score his third goal in five league matches.

Substitute Bony has only scored twice since rejoining the club for £12m from Manchester City, but had a chance to win it only to see his shot in the 93rd minute hacked off the line by Yedlin.

• Read more: Where was VAR when it was needed?

Benitez keen for signings to improve wasteful Newcastle

Newcastle have now only lost once in five Premier League matches as manager Rafael Benitez continues to pick up points, despite the off-field issues as owner Mike Ashley looks to sell the club.

The uncertainty has raised questions over whether Newcastle will be able to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window, and this match again highlighted the need for new additions as they battle to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Dwight Gayle, who started the match, failed to score for the eighth successive game and had three good chances but headed straight at Lukasz Fabianski, headed wide from a second chance and also shot just wide.

Newcastle's Dwight Gayle had the ball in the net in the first half but his header was correctly ruled out for offside

Perez was also denied by Fabianski and Paul Dummett should have done better when he fired over the top from six yards out.

Those wasted chances hurt Newcastle as Swansea took the lead before Joselu, who replaced the injured Gayle, equalised to give the hosts a point.

Benitez said it was "really important" for him to strengthen the squad this month.

He added: "We are trying to have some good targets and hopefully we can do something before the end. We need quality help."

Newcastle record goalscorer Alan Shearer said the team had 'enough chances to win three games'

Newcastle's home struggles continue - the stats

• Newcastle have failed to win any of their past seven home Premier League games (drew two, lost five) - their longest winless run since April 2009 under Joe Kinnear and then Alan Shearer (eight games).

• Indeed, it is Benitez's longest winless run on home soil in the Premier League as manager.

• Swansea have won four points in their two Premier League away games under Carvalhal - as many as they had won in their previous nine in the top flight.

• The Swans have kept just one clean sheet in their past 10 Premier League games, conceding 20 goals in the process.

• All four of Joselu's Premier League goals for Newcastle have come on home soil.

• Ayew has scored in three of his past five Premier League appearances - after failing to score in his previous 15 in the competition beforehand.

Man of the match - Jordan Ayew (Swansea)

Jordan Ayew has scored three goals in his past six games in all competitions having gone 14 matches without a goal before that

'We can't make these mistakes' - what they said

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said: "It's something we have seen in the past, we created enough chances to score in the first half and then we concede. It's always difficult to be happy when you draw at home but the main thing is the reaction and how we were pushing at the end.

"We have to learn that every single mistake can cost you and we can't make these mistakes. With the first-half chances we could have changed the game but we couldn't do it and we must take these chances.

"We know with a new manger they have confidence and are playing well but the reaction after the goal is the most positive thing. I thought our mobility and pace could cause problems but Dwight got a kick and I'm happy for Joselu to get his goal."

Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal said: "I'm very happy, two away games and we get four points - it's not excellent but it is good and against Tottenham we had no points but we played well and deserve more.

"This game we prepared really well to play with the ball, I think we had 57% possession but we also tried to move the ball into the spaces to create damage to the defensive organisation of Newcastle.

"We corrected at the break and in the second half we controlled the game. I am very happy with the players' commitment, they were very good in these games and we are doing the things we are training on.

"When we arrived no-one outside Swansea believed we can stay in the Premier League but I believe when we achieve a draw here playing good football against a good team and especially the second half against Tottenham. People will look and see that these guys are reacting. It's our challenge, we are achieving points in a difficult situation, but we are reacting."

On whether Swansea would sign anyone in the transfer window, Carvalhal added: "I believe we will achieve new players soon, hopefully in the next few days and hopefully two or three good players. I am pleased with my players but we have some gaps. My players deserve that we bring in some class players to achieve another level."

What's next?

Newcastle play away at Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday, 20 January (17:30 GMT).

For Swansea, they play at home to Championship leaders Wolves in an FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday, 17 January (19:45 GMT) before playing at home in the Premier League against Liverpool on Monday, 22 January (20:00 GMT)