Newcastle United stop rot with draw but fail to ease relegation worries

Ayoze Perez struck the equaliser to end Newcastle's eight-game losing streak, but a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at St James' Park does little to ease their relegation fears.

John Carver's side recovered from the shock of losing the opening goal to Victor Anichebe's header on 32 minutes with Perez thumping a volley into the net nine minutes later.

But they failed to benefit from Hull's 1-0 home defeat to relegated Burnley at the KC Stadium with the gap between themselves and Steve Bruce's third-bottom side only two points rather than the four it could have been with a win against the visitors.

Newcastle played well with a reorganised back four. They will glean some comfort from ending their worst sequence of result of eight successive defeats since 1977, but their plight remains serious.

They visit QPR before hosting West Ham on the final day of the season, but they will also be aware that their goal difference is worse than Hull as they seek two wins that will secure their Premier League status no matter what happens elsewhere.

Gareth McAuley - Solid performance from the West Brom defender as Newcastle tried to pile on the pressure in the second half without too much success.

TALKING POINT: Does John Carver retain the confidence of his dressing room? Can't really complain about the efforts of the Newcastle players or the fans, who only booed when West Brom went ahead. Their sense of togetherness eased the tension, and helped them escape with a point from a match they could easily have lost. With a bit more luck, they might have won it. They will need such momentum if they are going to avoid the unthinkable scenario of relegation on the final day of the season.

31' CHANCE! Lescott clears the ball off his line from the Sissoko finish. So near for the home side after Coloccini had headed Ryan Taylor's free-kick into his path.

32' GOAL! Dawson with the free-kick. Met by the head of Anichebe, and West Brom lead 1-0. What a blow to the home side. Newcastle fans are stunned.

41' GOAL! Newcastle are level at 1-1 as Perez drives the volley into the goal from the loose ball after Ryan Taylor's free-kick had broken kindly to him. A real relief of pressure around St James' Park.

73' WEST BROM HIT THE POST! Brunt sees the ball somehow come back off a post after Dummett had saved a certain goal from a Brunt header with a desperate block. Berahino also looking to finish. How did that ball stay out?

89' FINE SAVE! Lovely strike by Cisse, but a diving stop by Myhill prevents the ball hitting the net.

Newcastle end a run of eight straight defeats in the Premier League. Their 36 points from 36 matches is still two points more from the last season in the PL when were relegated (34 points – 2008/09). The last side to be relegated on 36 points was Wigan in 2012/13.

Newcastle have lost just one of their last 11 top flight matches at home against West Brom, dating back to 1985. Their only home defeat in this span was on 21 December 2011 (3-2).

Newcastle: Krul 7, Anita 7, Coloccini 7, Dummett 7, Gutierrez 7, Sissoko 7, R Taylor 7, Colback 7, Perez 7, Riviere 6, Cabella 6..subs: Ameobi 6, Aarons 6, Cisse 6

West Brom: Myhill 7, Dawson 7, McAuley 7, Olsson 7, Lescott 7, Gardner 6, Fletcher 7, Mulumbu 6, Yacob 6, Brunt 6, Anichebe 7..subs: Morrison 6, McManaman 6, Berahino 6