Newcastle on brink after failing to beat Villa

Rafa Benitez's side had their chances to earn the critical victory with Jack Colback squandering a big chance from 12 metres out and Aleksandar Mitrovic and Georginio Wijnaldum then both missing good opportunities.

(Reuters)

Already-relegated Villa's defence proved surprisingly resolute and they finally ended their club record-equalling sequence of 11 successive league defeats.

Newcastle's failure to break down the home side despite all their late pressure means they are still in the relegation zone with one game left and will be relegated if their neighbours and rivals Sunderland beat Everton on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Ian Chadband; editing by Clare Fallon)