Aston Villa needed a late Aaron Tshibola goal to salvage a 1-1 draw at home against Newcastle United.
Ultimately, the Villa Park faithful left the stadium feeling jubilated at gaining a point from this encounter against one of the stronger teams in the Championship.
Too often slack in possession and with errors in defence, the Villa players – despite managing to please boss Roberto Di Matteo with their late onslaught of pressure – looked second best for a large part of the game.
Here is one player who can be pleased with his performance for Villa, and two who may be disappointed.
Jordan Ayew
Ayew has taken 27 attempts on goal in the league so far this season, but is yet to score. This disappointing stat was very nearly rectified in the 72nd minute, as Ayew’s curling effort clipped the post and travelled to safety.
The Ghana international looked a constant threat going forward for Villa and seems much more comfortable and effective as a central forward, rather than in a supporting role from wide. Ayew’s corner on the 88th minute led to Tshibola’s headed equaliser. One of Villa’s better players, but needs to add an end product to his game.
Nathan Baker
Booked just before half time, the no-nonsense left-sided centre-back struggled with the attacking nature of Matt Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin on Newcastle’s right hand side.
Subbed at half time as Villa switched to a more familiar back four in the second 45.
Tommy Elphick
Scorer of the game’s opener with an own goal to give Newcastle the lead in the 28th minute, followed ten minutes later by pondering on – and losing – the ball to provide Newcastle with an ultimately failed shot on goal.
Not Elphick’s finest game and the former Bournemouth centre-back will be disappointed that his defence allowed Newcastle to have almost double the attempts on target compared to Aston Villa’s.
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