By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At St. James' Park

Newcastle United 1 (Coloccini 38)

Aston Villa 1 (Ayew 61)

Newcastle United extended their unbeaten run to three games as they recorded a 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at home against Aston Villa.

Captain Fabricio Coloccini struck the Magpies ahead late in the first half but a stunner from Jordan Ayew levelled things up for the top flight's basement side at St. James' Park.

United dominated the opening period and strikers Papiss Cisse and Aleksandar Mitrovic both threatened with headers before the deadlock was broken in the 38th minute.

Argentine centre-back Coloccini lashed home Siem de Jong's corner at the far post to send the home fans wild.

However, they failed to build on that after the break and were left to rue missed opportunities from Moussa Sissoko and Siem de Jong when Ayew turned on the edge of the area and found the top corner just past the hour mark.

Either side could have won it in the closing stages but United should be pleased with a point to go with successive victories over Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

And the Magpies will look to make it four games without defeat when Everton arrive on Tyneside on Boxing Day.

Roared on by a vociferous home support, United raced out of the traps. They almost entirely dominated the opening exchanges and sent a number of dangerous deliveries into the Villa area, albeit without troubling visiting goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

In fact, it was Villa who had the first real chance of the evening, although Idrissa Gueye's 25-yard shot was skewed both high and wide of the target.

But United responded and, on the half hour mark, Cisse was presented with a glorious chance to break the deadlock.

Rising above the Villans' defence to meet Daryl Janmaat's deep cross, the Senegalese striker failed to get a true connection on his header and could only direct it straight at Guzan, when it arguably should have been rippling the back of the Gallowgate End net.

And that was Cisse's last action of the evening as, almost immediately, he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury and hobbled down the tunnel to be replaced by Aleksandar Mitrovic.

MItrovic took just four minutes to make an impact on proceedings, stooping to meet Jack Colback's inswinging free-kick, directing his header towards the top corner but seeing Guzan equal to it with an outstanding fingertip save.

And it was from the resulting corner that the Magpies finally took the lead. Siem de Jong's corner made its way through to Coloccini on the far side of the area, and the skipper made no mistake with a low, first-time strike.

That goal separated the teams at half-time but Villa were almost level within 40 seconds of the second half getting underway - Veretout pulling the trigger from distance but Rob Elliot making a smart stop to his right.

And the visitors looked buoyed, with Jordan Ayew next to try his luck although volleying well over the bar from the edge of the area when Paul Dummett's header dropped invitingly for him.

But United weathered the storm and should have doubled their lead on 57 minutes when de Jong stole in at the far post to meet Georginio Wijnaldum's cross. The Dutch playmaker headed down into the turf and it looked a certain second goal but, much to the astonishment of all inside St. James' Park, de Jong somehow nodded wide.

On the hour mark, Villa substitute Rudy Gestede forced a save from Elliot with his first touch, a looping header that would have snuck in under the bar but for the keeper's fingertips.

And just a minute later the visitors were level through an absolute stunner. When Ayew picked up the ball on the left-hand side of the area there appeared little on, but the Ghanaian international cut back onto his right foot before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

Newcastle were on the ropes but could have edged back in front in the 74th minute when Ayoze Perez picked out Wijnaldum with a low delivery. The Magpies' leading scorer was six yards out with just Guzan to beat but his connection was poor and the shot trickled to Villa's grateful custodian.

The arrival of Florian Thauvin seemed to reinvigorate the hosts and the French winger was the catalyst for United getting a foothold back into a game they appeared to be slipping out of.

But at the other end, they were grateful again to Elliot, who pulled off another flying save to keep out Gestede's powerful header.

With time ticking away, Perez scooped a decent effort over the bar, and as the ball sailed off target, with it went Newcastle's hopes of all three points.

Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Moussa Sissoko, Vurnon Anita (Florian Thauvin 71), Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum; Siem de Jong (Ayoze Perez 59); Papiss Cisse (Aleksandar Mitrovic 32)

Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Kevin Mbabu, Cheick Tiote, Yoan Gouffran

Aston Villa (4-1-2-1-2): Brad Guzan; Alan Hutton, Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott (c), Leandro Bacuna; Carlos Sanchez; Ashley Westwood, Idrissa Gueye; Jordan Veretout; Scott Sinclair (Rudy Gestede 59), Jordan Ayew

Subs not used: Mark Bunn, Ciaran Clark, Kieran Richardson, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Adama Traore

Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)

Bookings: Newcastle United - Dummett (41); Aston Villa - Bacuna (77), Ayew (79), Westwood (84)

Attendance: 48,234