Stoke salvage last-minute point against Newcastle with 1-1 draw

Stoke City salvaged a point in the last minute after their striker Peter Crouch came off the bench to score a last-minute equaliser against Newcastle United at St. James' Park on Sunday.

Newcastle took the lead in the 74th minute with a driven shot three minutes from Jack Colback after he had escaped a second yellow card for a challenge on Victor Moses. Stoke's Stephen Ireland thought he had equalised with an 18-yard shot but was flagged offside.

However, substitute Crouch headed in a Geoff Cameron cross late on to earn Stoke a point, the BBC reported.

Stoke would reportedly feel that their equaliser was justified after the referee did not book Colback for a second time after his reckless challenge on Moses.

Stoke's leveler denied Newcastle manager John Carver a win in his first home game since being appointed head coach at the club until the summer.

Carver played down the controversy over Colback's challenge, saying that it wasn't a classic and he thought that his side had stolen the three points when they got the goal. He added that he couldn't see where they were going to get a goal from, but insisted that it was from their stupidity.

Carver insisted that he is never going to take away Colback's competitiveness, adding that he has been a great signing for this football club.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said that at a key point in game the referee hasn't made a brave or strong decision, adding that the referee allowed Colback to stay on when really he should have got a second yellow card and gone off.

Hughes insisted that that would have made the difference and possibly allowed his side to go on and win.