Newcastle United battled back from deficits twice to claim a share of the spoils from their home Premier League encounter with Manchester United this evening.
When Wayne Rooney took his personal tally to 14 Premier League goals against the Magpies by putting the visitors 3-2 in front in the 79th minute it seemed that Louis van Gaal's men had earned all three points.
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However, in the final minute of normal time Newcastle defender Paul Dummett saw his deflected effort fly into the top corner of David de Gea's net to earn his side a point in front of a buoyant St James' Park faithful.
Both keepers were spectators during the opening exchanges, yet the game burst into life in the ninth minute when the first penalty of the night was awarded.
Referee Mike Dean adjudged that Chancel Mbemba had handled Marouane Fellaini's downward header inside the box and Rooney stepped up to score his third goal in successive games by sending Rob Elliot the wrong way.
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That sprung the game into life as Rooney failed to hit the target when put clean through by Lingard, while up the other end Georginio Wijnaldum drew a save from De Gea in the United goal.
However, despite the fact that Rooney had been unable to double his side's advantage, he showed good awareness as the visitors extended their lead in the 38th minute. The United skipper raced clear and held up possession long enough for Lingard to make a run on the blindside. The pass was inch perfect for the advancing winger, who slotted a low shot underneath Elliot and into the far corner of the net.
Just when it appeared that the away team were going to take a two-goal advantage into the break, Newcastle hit back in the 42nd minute. Fellaini was unable to get enough distance on his headed clearance and the alert Wijnaldum was on hand to cushion a volleyed effort into the bottom corner.
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Eleven minutes after the restart Lingard had the chance to score his second goal of the contest when the ball was poked into his path by Ander Herrera, only for the 23-year-old to wildly fire over the crossbar from just eight yards out.
It was a miss that was then duly punished with 67 minutes on the clock. United defender Chris Smalling and Newcastle frontman Aleksandar Mitrovic were involved in a tussle at a corner and referee Dean sided with the latter, who buried his opportunity from the penalty spot to restore parity.
Back came the Red Devils, though, when Memphis Depay's shot was only cleared as far as Rooney and the United number 10 responded by firing a rising shot into the top corner of Elliot's net. Rooney has now scored more goals against the Tynesiders in the Premier League than any other club.
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Fellaini then headed straight at Elliot when presented with the chance to secure the points and just like Lingard before him, the Belgian midfielder was made to pay in the 89th minute.
The United rearguard failed to clear their lines and although it seemed that Dummett's driven shot from distance looked to be comfortable for De Gea, it flew beyond the Spanish custodian via a deflection off Smalling.
Liam Apicella
