Owen goal fails to win match for Newcastle

London: Robert Huth scored an equaliser in the 87th minute on Sunday to give Middlesbrough a 1-1 draw at Newcastle and deny Kevin Keegan his first victory since his return to the Magpies.

Michael Owen gave Newcastle the lead in the 60th with a near post header to end the team's scoreless run and his own personal drought of 10 games without a goal, but Huth jumped to beat two Newcastle men in the air and scored with a looping header inside the far post three minutes from the end.

"Michael deserved his goal," Keegan said. "His record is there for everyone to see, to be examined and admired, and he has been tremendous since I have been here."

"Again today it was a quarter chance at best, but he obviously did what he has always done with those chances during his career and put it away. The only shame was that it was not the winning goal."

Roy Hodgson finally managed a victory after five games at next-to-last Fulham with the Cottagers coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1.

The win was Fulham's first win in 12 matches, while it was also Villa's first loss in nine.

After a 0-0 draw with Bolton and two 3-0 losses to Arsenal in the FA Cup and Premier League, Newcastle were desperate for a victory over its neighbour.

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton, who is on bail accused of being involved in a street fight in late December, made his first start since his arrest.

The Magpies thought they had ended their three-game scoring drought as early as the fourth minute when Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer dropped a corner and Owen stabbed the ball home from close range.

Owen seemed to make little contact with the goalkeeper but referee Mike Dean angered the Newcastle fans when he disallowed the goal for a foul by the England striker.

Jeremie Aliadiere should have equalised in the 67th when he broke clear of the Newcastle defence but pulled his shot across the face of the goal.

After Huth equalised from Julio Arca's cross, Middlesbrough almost snatched victory when Stewart Downing's free kick hit the post and Aliadiere's follow-up shot went in only for the referee to disallow it for offside.

An own-goal by Aaron Hughes gave former team Villa the lead in the 69th minute at Craven Cottage.

Hughes stuck out a leg to try and clear a corner but deflected it into his own net from six meters.

Fulham leveled through Simon Davies three minutes later and Jimmy Bullard, only just back in the lineup after a serious knee injury in September 2006, curled home a 25-meter free kick for an 86th-minute winner.

Despite the victory, Fulham remain 19th but have moved within two points of 18th-place Birmingham. Villa remained sixth.

In Saturday's games, Arsenal went two points clear at the top of the standings by winning 3-1 at Manchester City and Manchester United were held 1-1 at Tottenham. Third place Chelsea also were held to a draw, 1-1 at Portsmouth.

Everton stayed fourth after a 0-0 draw at Blackburn and Liverpool scored a 3-0 victory over Sunderland.

Last place Derby drew 1-1 at Birmingham, Wigan edged West Ham 1-0 and Bolton won 2-0 at Reading.