Newcastle United U21s came from behind twice to end their four-match losing run in the league to earn a point against Leeds United. Ben Parkinson and an own-goal from Connor Ferguson twice drew the Magpies level, and the hosts held on for a 2-2 draw despite a late red card for Remi Savage.
Ben Dawson named three changes from the side who fell to a late derby defeat in their last outing at Sunderland on January 30. Rodrigo Vilca made his first start in black-and-white since returning from a loan spell with Peruvian side Universitario de Deportes, with Max Thompson and Charlie Wiggett also coming into the team.
Leeds made a fast start, and took the lead after just seven minutes when Mateo Joseph tapped in at the far post. Ben Parkinson drew the hosts level with a fierce drive from the edge of the box, but parity proved to be short-lived as Charlie Allen almost instantly restored the lead.
Newcastle rode their luck at times after the interval before Ferguson inadvertently turned a low cross from Bondswell into his own net, and both sides then spurned a glorious chance apiece in added time to snatch a win after Savage was dismissed. Here are three things we learned from Newcastle U21s 2-2 draw with their Leeds counterparts at Whitley Park on Monday night.
READ MORE: Newcastle United U21s 2-2 Leeds United U21s highlights
Striker's landmark goal
Scoring goals have been something of a problem for Newcastle U21s in recent weeks, with Dawson admitting his side struggled in the final third in their derby defeat. The Magpies second-string have failed to score more than once in a PL2 fixture since the reverse encounter with Leeds in November.
Parkinson was handed his first start at under-21 level in the defeat at the Academy of Light, and kept his place for the latest outing. The 17-year-old has netted eight goals at under-18 level this term, and captained Graeme Carrick's side in the FA Youth Cup defeat to Arsenal at St James' Park last month.
The latest outing proved to be a memorable one for the teenager after he scored his first goal for the second-string. Parkinson showed great tenacity at first to pinch possession, before confidently driving the ball from the edge of the box beyond the dive of Dani van den Heuvel.
Newcastle U21s top scorer Dylan Stephenson was allowed to leave in January, with the young forward joining Hamilton Academical on loan until the end of the season. Michael Ndiweni and Isaac Westendorf have both been unable to put together a goalscoring run this term, and this was a successful audition for Parkinson although the goalscorer was forced off late on in the contest with a knock.
Trialist's watching brief
Dawson previously insisted he had 'no idea' over an impending trial for Dujuan 'Whisper Richards', with a report from the Jamaica Observer last month insisting a two-week trial was on the cards. The striker was then pictured in the stands at St James' Park during the draw with West Ham, and ChronicleLive understands the 17-year-old's trial on Tyneside began on February 6.
There was no place in the matchday squad on Monday night for the Phoenix All Stars Academy prospect, with the Magpies previously starting Amadou Diallo during his trial before he signed for the club in October. However, Richards was given a watching brief on this occasion as he took his place in the stand at Whitley Park to support his current team-mates.
The trialists has shared pictures and video clips of himself decked out in Newcastle training gear and being put through his paces at the Benton training base over the last week. The Jamaican forward scored more than 30 goals at schoolboy level for Kingston College, and recently earned his first senior callup to train with his national side last month.
Miley's milestone
A remarkable season for Lewis Miley got even better at the weekend, with the 16-year-old taking his place in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time for the draw at Bournemouth. Eddie Howe stressed the teenager had earned his spot on the bench on merit, with the versatile attacking midfielder in contention to be included in the squad again for the visit of Liverpool.
Two days on, Miley once again joined his older brother Jamie in lining up in a midfield three for Dawson's side. The rising star initially was deployed on the left flank having made his U21 breakthrough, but has more recently been utilised through the middle.
Miley was one of five academy talents to join Howe's senior squad for the mid-season training camp in Saudi Arabia, and made his first-team debut at St James' Park as a substitute in the friendly win over Rayo Vallecano. This was soon followed by a first goal at the stadium in the FA Youth Cup defeat to Arsenal last month.
It was another assured display from the talented teenager, who retained possession well and was at the heart of several promising attacks for Dawson's side. Having begun the season at under-18 level, Miley is clearly now a key figure for Dawson's side and could yet make his competitive senior bow before the end of the season.
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