Magpies earn important point against Hull City

Facing a daunting schedule that includes Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa in their remaining schedule, Newcastle earned an important point today in a 1-1 draw against Hull City today. The result is far from one to provide celebration as combined with Middlesbrough draw with Portsmouth, Newcastle is now in a three way tie for the final spot.

With Michael Owen back into the starting eleven and paired up with Oba Martins up top, the Magpies showed respectable spark and ball control, although of-course with only one ball gracing the net the final scoring touch was lacking. However from the get-go Hull City showed initiative and after reasonable earlier effort, exposed Newcastle on the counter as Geovanni headed in Craig Fagan's cross from the centre of the box. The goal disadvantage seemed to stir Newcastle and after showing solid attacking intent the match was level as Nicky Butt picked out Steven Taylor with a perfect cross into the box, with a resulting strike into back of the net. With the match now even Newcastle seemed uninterested in little of the killer instinct it desperately needs and more content with the draw. After a series of attacking efforts by Hull City fell short the match finally concluded with a 1-1 draw.

The Magpies now head into treacherous two weeks that could go a long way in deciding their Premier League fate as they face Arsenal and Chelsea in successive weeks.