Newcastle defender James Perch’s late own-goal gave Stoke a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the hosts in the Premier League on Sunday.
Perch tried to clear a corner from Matthew Etherington while under pressure from Stoke defender Robert Huth in the 85th minute, but instead sent the ball into his own net with an unstoppable diving header.
Magpies captain Kevin Nolan had put Newcastle ahead in the 43rd with a penalty after Andy Carroll was brought down by Robert Huth in an off-the-ball incident. Nolan sent the penalty low to the left of goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Stoke equalized in the 67th with a header from Trinidad and Tobago international Kenwyne Jones, his third league goal of the season. Jones scored from close range after a headed pass from Huth at the far post.
Stoke had to come from behind to register its first win of the season against Aston Villa and also hit back from a goal down in the recent draw with West Ham.
“I think it’s a bad habit we need to kick,” Jones told Sky Sports 1. “All of the games this season we didn’t start so good in the first half and have had to come on in the second half and try and pull off a victory. Hopefully we’ll discontinue this habit and start winning the first half.”
“The crosses keep coming in and I’m on hand to put them in,” Jones said. “Thankfully it’s been happening consistently and I hope that continues.”
The Magpies dominated the first half without creating too many chances, but went in at the break deservedly a goal up. However, it was a very different Stoke that emerged for the second half as Jones, a former Sunderland striker, Jones belatedly forced his way into the game.
“For all Newcastle’s play in the first half, apart from the penalty, I don’t think they made Thomas Sorensen do a lot,” Stoke manager Tony Pulis said. “Having said that, there was no excuse for the way we played, but I thought we were better in the second half.”
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton was disappointed after his side slipped to a second successive home defeat.
“We knew this was going to be a tough season and we knew it is a season where we are probably going to lose more games than we win,” he told reporters. “I am realistic enough to know where we are at this moment. We are a side that has just got promotion back up to this division.”
“I know where we are. It would be nice for me to say that we will win more games than we will lose. That would see us in a very favorable position in the league, which would be nice, but I am realistic about where we are,” Hughton said.
■VILLA 2, WOLVES 1
AFP, WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND
Emile Heskey’s late goal gave Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier a 2-1 victory away to Midlands rivals Wolves in the Frenchman’s first Premier League match in charge of the club.
Villa and England winger Stewart Downing put the visitors ahead in the 25th minute at Molineux on Sunday after turning in Marc Albrighton’s cross before Wolves’ Matt Jarvis equalized just after the hour.
However, ex-England striker Heskey sealed victory for Villa with a powerful header two minutes from time as Houllier’s men moved up to fifth in the table.
It was the second time in a week Heskey — signed for £11 million (US$17.4 million) by then-Liverpool manager Houllier a decade ago — had come to Villa’s aid after he inspired a midweek comeback League Cup win over Blackburn Rovers.
“It was the perfect return because we got three points,” Houllier told Sky Sports. “They made life extremely difficult for us but we kept playing and the second goal was a reward for the way we want to play.”
Heskey’s goal took his tally to three in four games — not bad for a forward long criticized for a lack of goals.
“Emile’s header was fantastic. We know what he’s capable of,” Houllier said. “All strikers need confidence,” Houllier added after Heskey’s first league start in six months.”
However, Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was unhappy the already booked Stephen Warnock did not receive a second yellow card for bringing down Kevin Doyle before supplying the cross that led to Heskey’s winner.
“It was a better second-half performance, we got done by a good goal but I’m not sure if the bloke who crossed it should have been on the field,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been punished harshly for some of the fouls we’ve committed.”
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