Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 1: Aaron Tshibola cancels out Tommy Elphick’s own goal to relieve pressure on boss Roberto di Matteo
Rafa Benitez's men are up to fifth but the home side are now seven matches without a win
AS late drama goes, this was not too far off Champions League proportions.
This clash saw Rafa Benitez and Roberto Di Matteo go head to head — two managers who have both won Europe’s elite club competition in unforgettable circumstances.
And while it was never going to match the thrilling penalty shootout victories the pair had with Liverpool and Chelsea, it still had a nail-biting finish.
Aaron Tshibola’s late header rescued Villa — and perhaps boss Di Matteo’s job.
That was after Tommy Elphick’s first-half own goal looked to have consigned the hosts to defeat in a game featuring the most expensive combined starting XIs in Championship history.
Di Matteo still has just one win this season — hardly justifying the huge £60.25million value of his starting team.
But the manner of the fightback against heavily-fancied Newcastle — whose line-up cost £63m — will give fans hope and the Italian breathing room.
Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, caught up in another partying controversy last week, was not involved.
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But Villa almost had the perfect start when £15m striker Jonathan Kodjia burst into the box, only to be denied by a brilliant block from ex-Villa defender Ciaran Clark.
Matt Ritchie was given more licence to roam by Benitez and it almost paid off as he fizzed a shot just wide.
Ritchie may be the stand-out Toon signing but he is closely followed by Isaac Hayden.
And it was the former Arsenal kid who brought about the opener.
His brilliant pass between two Villa players set away DeAndre Yedlin, whose first-time cross was turned into his own net by Elphick with Dwight Gayle breathing down his neck.
Gayle should have put Newcastle in control before half-time when he stole possession off Elphick.
All the jet-heeled ace had to do was beat keeper Pierluigi Gollini but he failed miserably by firing straight at the Italian.
The visitors almost paid for it as Jordan Amavi picked out Albert Adomah at the far post — but he could not divert his shot on target.
Di Matteo brought on Tshibola at half-time and Rudy Gestede just after the hour.
Then Mo Diame, who just had to hit the target to score, dragged wide for Toon.
Villa’s Mile Jedinak rose to head home a free-kick but was adjudged offside.
Jordan Ayew almost grabbed his first goal of the season with a repeat of the curler he netted at St James’ Park last season but cracked against the post.
In their desperation for an equaliser, Tshibola pushed it too far when taking a tumble in the area under pressure from sub Cheick Tiote — and was booked for diving.
But eventually Villa’s perseverance paid off.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s sloppy backpass led to a series of corners for Villa.
Ayew swung the second one into the back post and there was Tshibola to tower above Yoan Gouffran and head in.
Before that goal, only Benitez looked like a Championship winner out of the two Champions League-winning bosses.
But Di Matteo, as we should know from the magic in Munich with Chelsea, is a man who never gives up.
Villa scorer Tshibola said: “It feels good to score. I feel like we got the point we deserved.”
Newcastle’s Clark said: “Does it feel like a defeat? Yes, I think so.
“We held out for so long but we knew it was going to be a tough game coming here.
“Full credit to Villa. I spent a number of years here and to come back on the opposing side did feel a little bit weird. I had to concentrate on the game in hand.”