Magpies fight back for draw

Shola Ameobi's 14th European goal kept Newcastle's Europa League campaign on track after an eventful 2-2 draw against Club Brugge.

The 31-year-old struck from younger brother Sammy's 43rd-minute pass two minutes after Vurnon Anita had dispatched a sweet volley to cancel out the 2-0 lead Brugge had been handed on a plate during an awful start by the visitors.

The Belgians went ahead with 14 minutes gone when Ivan Trickovski embarrassed skipper Fabricio Coloccini to register the first Group D goal conceded by Newcastle, and Jesper Jorgensen doubled their advantage within five minutes with Alan Pardew's men simply not at the races.

However, a side featuring eight changes to the one which ran out at Liverpool on Sunday managed to summon up a commendable response to take a point which means they remain at the top of the group.

Coloccini, only starting the game because he is suspended for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham, allowed Ryan Donk's 14th-minute long ball to drop over his head, much as he had done at Anfield to allow Luis Suarez to score a brilliant equaliser, and Trickovski took full advantage to beat Tim Krul.

But things were to get much worse when, five minutes later, James Tavernier's clearing header fell to Jorgensen 20 yards out and he fired into the bottom corner past a distinctly flat-footed Krul.

However, as the half wore on, Pardew's men eventually found a rhythm and Brugge keeper Bojan Jorgacevic had to tip Shola Ameobi's header over the bar after he climbed well at the far post to meet brother Sammy's cross 10 minutes before the break.

But the fireworks were still to come and were sparked by Anita's first goal for the club, a sumptuous 41st-minute volley after full-back Tom Hogli's header dropped invitingly to him on the edge of the penalty area.

The travelling fans were still celebrating when Shola Ameobi ran on to his 20-year-old brother's pass two minutes later and stabbed the ball past the advancing Jorgacevic to level and spare himself and his team-mates the wrath of their manager at half-time.

Newcastle might even have emerged victorious had substitute Yohan Cabaye's 74th-minute free-kick not come back off the bar with Jorgacevic stranded, although Krul made vital second-half saves from Carlos Bacca, Mohamed Tchite and Vadis Odjidja as the home side finished strongly.