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Papiss Cisse's lucky injury-time winner secured a 2-1 victory for Newcastle against unlucky West Bromwich Albion.
It was a desperate way to finish for the visitors who after being outplayed in the first half, were dominant for large periods after the break and were close to securing the spoils before the late drama.
After Romelu Lukaku cancelled out Demba Ba's opener, the Baggies looked the only team likely to strike again, only for the substitute Cisse to score with a deflected shot and bag only their second win in eight league games.
Considering how bright West Brom were in the second half, it was a surprisngly lacklustre and error-ridden start by Steve Clarke's outfit who came to St James' Park hunting a victory that would have hoisted them to fourth.
But after recalling the big-hitters such as keeper Tim Krul, Demba Ba and captain Fabricio Coloccini after being rested for Thursday's Europa League venture, it was the Magpies who looked hungry and sprightly.
Ba, Shola Ameobi and Hatem Ben Arfa were causing havoc in the opening exchanges and the hosts could easily have been three goals to the good within 20 minutes.
First Ba nodded Ameobi's cross shockingly high and wide from five yards, Ameobi then headed straight to Ben Foster and the keeper was again on red alert, pushing away Davide Santon's low shot.
Finally, the Baggies spurted into life and on-loan striker Lukaku was through on goal from Graham Dorrens' threaded ball, only for keeper Krul to stand strong and palm to safety.
It was all-out attack for both teams in a breathless final 15 minutes of the half and it was the Newcastle faithful who were celebrating, yet again from Ba's clinical shooting boots.
A long punt by Krul was flicked on by Ameobi and after centre-back Gareth McAuley's poor header, Ba pounced to thump the ball home for his seventh goal in nine league matches.
With just two away league goals this season, the joint-lowest in the Premier League, West Brom's confidence had the perfect chance for a boost before the break, but again the hesitant Lukaku could not beat Krul when clean through.
The urgency and meance continued in the second half for the visitors and they deservedly drew level (55), with Lukaku making amends for his profligacy, nodding in Zolta Gera's teasing cross at the back post.
Sloppy in possession and dragged around by their revitalised opponents, Newcastle threw on Gabriel Obertan and Papiss Cisse, but West Brom were sniffing the win and substitute Shane Long twice went close.
But with the game drawing to a close, it was left for Cisse to grab the headlines as the ball bobbled off his back past the helpless Foster from Ameobi's long-range shot.
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