Aston Villa blog: Another draw - but this time it's different

Perhaps it was the fact we were the team that took advantage of a late equaliser for once, or perhaps it was the way by hook or by crook that Di Matteo at last decided to have a go in the last 20 minutes, writes Villa blogger Justin Hawthorne

The first half wasn't great and boos rang out on 45 minutes. Newcastle weren't great either, but probably just about deserved the lead.

Elphick was all over the place in the first half – we just don't look good with three defenders at the back.

And we were only a good save away from conceding a second, again after another Elphick mistake.

The break came at the right time and I was pleased to see Tshibola introduced at the interval. I hope his injuries are behind him now as I think him and Jedinak are going to be a real force together.

The biggest plus of the night for me was still to come when young Rusian Hepburn-Murphy took to the field in place of the much-maligned Westwood.

There is no better feeling as a fan than to welcome a young homegrown player into the first team – and boy did he take his chance. With him and Ayew running at a tiring Newcastle side, we were suddenly on top.

All we have to do it take that form from the last 20 minutes into the next two games before the international break and maybe we can start looking up for once instead of over our shoulders.