LONDON: Newcastle United’s agonising wait for a first win in the Premier League this season is heading into December.

It’s 14 games and counting without a victory for the northeast club, which recently came under Saudi ownership, after a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City that pitted the bottom two teams in the league against each other on Tuesday.

A point does little for either side’s hopes of beating the drop as Leeds United’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace moved them five points clear of the bottom three.

Newcastle, who are in last place, became the fourth team to fail to win any of their first 14 matches in a Premier League campaign, according to Opta, the league’s statistics supplier. The previous three Swindon Town (1993-94), Queens Park Rangers (2012-13) and Sheffield United (last season) all went on to get relegated.

The visit of Norwich represented perhaps Newcastle’s best chance of securing that elusive win, yet a ninth-minute red card for centre-back Ciaran Clark for bringing down Teemu Pukki when last man left Eddie Howe’s team with an uphill task at St. James’ Park.

Even a man down, Newcastle looked the more dangerous team and took the lead in the 61st minute when Callum Wilson converted a penalty after Federico Fernandez’s header struck the raised hand of Billy Gilmour.

Pukki equalised in the 79th with a left-footed volley into the top corner.

“It’s a missed opportunity,” Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey said. We defended brilliantly throughout everyone to a man worked their socks off. “It’s unfortunate the red card early doors gave us a mountain to climb.”

Newcastle, who are on seven points, moved to within two points of Burnley, who have played two games fewer. Norwich are a point further ahead and unbeaten in three games since Dean Smith was hired as manager to replace Daniel Farke.

Leeds gave themselves some breathing space from the bottom three by edging out Palace in stoppage time thanks to Raphinha’s penalty.

Palace wasted the biggest chance of the game from open play when Christian Benteke headed Wilfried Zaha’s pinpoint cross wide.

Leeds got the break their season needed deep into added time when Marc Guehi handled from Liam Cooper’s header and Raphinha coolly slotted home the resulting spot-kick to move Marcelo Bielsa’s men up to 15th.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2021