After building a solid two goal lead Newcastle collapsed in-front of their home crowed as they played to a 2-2 draw with Stoke City. With the single point, Newcastle edges in-front of Tottenham with the Spurs facing West Ham tomorrow. The Magpies took the lead only eight minutes in as Jonás Gutiérrez provided the Michael Owen a close range opportunity to beat Stoke 'keeper Thomas Sorensen. The margin was doubled sixteen minutes later Obafemi Martins's cross was flicked in by Michael Owen and visions of much needed cascaded throughout a jubulent St James' Park. Unfortunately Danny Guthrie suffered a injury at the half and the Potters slowly took control of midfield play. After pressuring Newcastle, Stoke could be held back no longer and on the hour, Ricardo Fuller provided Mamady Sidibe the ball in the area with the Cercle Athlétique de Paris Charenton-product bringing Stoke within one. With Newcastle reeling as the match wore down, former Magpie Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye rose to the occasion re-directing Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan's free-kick behind Shay Given in added-time.As a further note Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear was sent to the stands for disputing a linesman call that led to the equalizer. Given his previous problems with the FA, this will undoubtedly be reviewed.
