Newcastle United are on course for a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion in their Premier League clash at St James' Park.

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The hosts were quickest out of the starting blocks as Moussa Sissoko strode forward towards the edge of the West Brom box before firing over the top.

Newcastle then suffered a scare in the eighth minute when Craig Dawson met Craig Gardner's corner with a downward header that cannoned off the post, with Ryan Taylor then diving in the way of Youssuf Mulumbu's follow-up.

John Carver's charges soon imposed themselves on the game and had a penalty shout turned down when Remy Cabella was felled in the West Brom box, while a scramble in the same area saw Joleon Lescott clear off the line.

West Brom managed to withstand the pressure and went on to strike first blood just after the half-hour mark. Victor Anichebe made the most of the Magpies' weakness at set pieces to nod home from Gardner's delivery.

With Newcastle facing the prospect of slipping into the bottom three, they rallied and duly equalised with four minutes until half time as Ayoze Perez stroked a half-volley into the bottom corner beyond Boaz Myhill.