Newcastle 1 Queens Park Rangers 1

Harewood the hero as Magpies hit back.

HE may have been unwanted in the Premier League, but Marlon Harewood has already found a home in the Championship with Newcastle United.

Just when it looked as if the Magpies would be unable to extend their advantage at the top of English football’s second tier, the loan signing from Aston Villa turned hero with an equaliser 20 minutes from time to secure a point.

While Middlesbrough and other clubs steered clear of the muscular striker when Villa manager Martin O’Neill made him available, Newcastle’s persistence saw him make the move to Tyneside.

And Harewood, without a league goal since scoring at Derby for Villa 18 months ago, has not taken long to show why Chris Hughton was so keen to sign him.

He may have a reputation for being outspoken off the pitch, but the reality is that if he keeps producing the goods like he did last night, then his loan move to St James’ Park will be a successful one.

With Newcastle trailing to Ben Watson’s seventh minute opener that wrong-footed Steve Harper after taking a deflection off Steven Taylor, Hughton cut a frustrated figure as numerous chances were spurned including a missed penalty from Danny Guthrie.

But with the minutes ticking by, Harewood was introduced from the bench and nine minutes into his home bow he scrambled an equaliser over the line to earn his new club a point.

This may not have been the result Newcastle wanted after Tuesday night’s defeats for West Brom, Preston and Middlesbrough, but Hughton can take satisfaction from the fact his players never caved in against a dogged QPR.

QPR have won more matches on their travels this season than they have at Loftus Road and, with two quick wingers playing on the counter-attack, it was easy to see why.

Within eight minute the visitors were in front. Wayne Routledge, often the outlet for the dark green shirts on the right flank, fed Watson. The red-haired midfielder, on loan from Wigan, took a touch to his left before his low drive took a deflection off Taylor and rolled to the right of Harper.

In fairness to Newcastle, while QPR were lively going forward, Steve Harper was never really threatened again for the remainder of the half.

With Fabricio Coloccini ruled out with groin trouble, Zurab Khizanishvili needed to develop an understanding with Steven Taylor at the heart of the defence and, once the opening goal had gone in, they did just that.

Steven Taylor was keen to make amends for his early frustration and he succeeded soon after. When he half volleyed into the arm of Damion Stewart inside the area, referee Rob Shoebridge pointed to the spot.

But Guthrie, unlikely to be asked to take the next one, struck tamely for Radek Cerny to dive to his right and hold with ease.

While playing without a left-winger worked so effectively at Ipswich, the lack of width prevented Newcastle from creating much down that flank. There was still, though, enough opportunities for Hughton’s men to fashion an equaliser.

Full-back Gary Borrowdale cleared a goal-bound header from Carroll off the line and Kevin Nolan’s bullet header from Jose Enrique’s cross was saved by Cerny.

Hughton and his assistant Colin Calderwood were clearly dissatisfied and Jonas Gutierrez was introduced at half-time at the expense of the ineffective Nicky Butt.

But QPR remained well-organised and it wasn’t until the introduction of Harewood that Newcastle were able to inject some much-needed impetus to their play with the former West Ham man finally finding the breakthrough.

Carroll nodded Simpson’s centre goalwards and Harewood’s presence in the six yard area allowed him to bundle across the line. It may not have been pretty, but ending his drought clearly meant everything to him.

Match facts

Goals: Watson (7, 0-1); Harewood (70, 1-1)

Bookings: Smith (68, foul); Stewart (75, foul); Liegertwood (90, foul); Faurlin (90, unsporting behaviour)

Referee: Rob Shoebridge (Derby) 7

Attendance: 38, 923

Entertainment: ✰✰✰

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Harper 6; D Simpson 6, S TAYLOR 7, Khizanishvili 7, Enrique 6; Guthrie 4 (Lovenkrands 87), Nolan 5, Smith 7, Butt 5 (Gutierrez 46, 5); Carroll 6, Ranger 6 (Harewood 61, 7).

Subs (not used): Geremi, Krul (gk), Kadar, Donaldson.

QPR (4-4-2): Cerny 7; Leigertwood 6, Gorkss 6, Stewart 7, Borrowdale 7; Routledge 6, WATSON 7, Rowlands 6, Buzsaky 6; J Simpson 6 (Tarrabt 73), Vine 6 (Faurlin 87). Subs (not used): Heaton (gk), Ramage, Ephraim, Pellicori, Agyemang.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Steven Taylor – drove Newcastle from the back and made some timely challenges.