Shearer snatches late equaliser

Newcastle United 1, West Bromwich Albion 1(half-time)

Alan Shearer snatched a late first-half equaliser for Newcastle against West Brom in controversial circumstances.

The Newcastle skipper drilled home from seven yards after Igor Balis, who had earlier put the visitors ahead, was adjudged to have passed back to keeper Joe Murphy from a Nolberto Solano cross.

The Magpies stepped up a gear as they attempted to redress the balance, and they almost did so on 32 minutes after Moore and Murphy both went for Bellamy’s right-wing cross.

Moore won the header but collided with the keeper, but as Shearer and Solano converged on the loose ball, Sean Gregan hacked it away to safety.

Robert showed Neil Clement a clean pair of heels nine minutes before the break to force Gregan to concede a corner, but although the Frenchman’s cross fell to Solano, his placed shot was easily blocked.

The former Paris St Germain midfielder’s influence was growing all the time, but it was referee Mr Foy who handed United perhaps their best chance of the half in the final minute.

Dyer and Solano combined neatly down the right before the Peruvian sent in a cross which hit Balis’ foot and ended up in Murphy’s arms.

The official awarded a free-kick for a back-pass and when Solano rolled the free-kick to Shearer seven yards out, he blasted a shot past Murphy to equalise.