Newcastle 4-4 Luton Town St James' Park thriller sees Magpies ...

Newcastle United and Luton Town shared the spoils following a thoroughly entertaining 4-4 draw at St James’ Park.

The Hatters, who moved out of the relegation zone, twice came from behind to lead 4-2, but The Magpies hit back to earn a point and avoid a third successive home defeat.

Sean Longstaff fired Newcastle in front after just seven minutes when he swept home Kieran Trippier’s cross, but Luton responded in the 21st minute when Gabriel Osho headed in from close range.

Longstaff restored the lead two minutes later, only for the visitors to level again before the break through Ross Barkley.

Carlton Morris completed the turnaround from the penalty spot just before the hour after Dan Burn fouled Chiedozie Ogbene in the box, while Elijah Adebayo rounded off a swift counter soon after to put Luton 4-2 to the good.

Trippier pulled one back when he turned in Bruno Guimaraes’ neat cross, before Harvey Barnes marked his return from injury with a 20-yard strike dragging Newcastle level and ensuring the thrilling contest ended with honours even.

Although they could not hold on from 4-2 up, Luton can draw plenty more positives from their performance at St James’ Park.

Dangerous going forward, especially on the counter, they have now scored 32 goals this season - more than Manchester United and the second-highest in the bottom half of the Premier League table (behind only Wolves’ 33)

The Hatters became only the fourth Premier League side to score four times on this ground in the last eight seasons.

And following their 4-0 rout of Brighton and Hove Albion in midweek, they have now scored four goals in successive top-flight matches for the first time in over 40 years.

With a goal and two assists, Barkley can count himself unfortunate not to have finished on the winning side.

The resurgent midfielder loves playing against Newcastle. He has now scored six times against them in the Premier League, more than any other side.

Heavily involved throughout the game, he provided the most key passes (four) and successful passes (51), while only Trippier (96) bettered the 79 touches he registered.

Also demonstrating his defensive credentials, no player recorded more interceptions than Barkley (three, level with team-mate Mengi).

Newcastle: Dubravka 6, Trippier 7, Schar 7, Botman 6, Burn 5, Longstaff 8, Guimaraes 8, Miley 7, Almiron 6, Gordon 7, Murphy 7. Subs: Wilson 6, Barnes 7, Livramento 6.

Luton: Kaminski 6; Mengi 6, Osho 7, Bell 6; Ogbene 8, Lokonga 6, Barkley 9*, Doughty 6; Clark 7, Morris 7, Adebayo 7. Subs: Mpanzu 5, Brown 5, Burke 5, Woodrow N/A

7' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 1-0 LUTON TOWN (LONGSTAFF): Fresh from signing a new long-term deal with Newcastle, Miley neatly switches the play out to Trippier. The Magpies skipper sends a low ball into the box, where Longstaff arrives and brilliantly sweeps a first-time shot past Kaminski.

21' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 1-1 LUTON TOWN (OSHO): A good response from the visitors as Barkley nods a free-kick back across the penalty area. The unmarked Osho arrives in the six-yard box to head past Dubravka off the underside of the crossbar.

23' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 2-1 LUTON TOWN (LONGSTAFF): After dealing with a Luton attack, Newcastle counter with Gordon leading the charge. The forward accelerates away from Osho and his shot is parried by Kaminski straight to Longstaff, who controls before sweeping into the goalkeeper's bottom-right corner.

40' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 2-2 LUTON TOWN (BARKLEY): Winning possession back near the halfway line, Barkley drives at the Newcastle defence before feeding Clark. The latter's cross is parried by Dubravka straight to the former Chelsea and Everton midfielder, who has space to take a touch and slot into the empty net.

59' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 2-3 LUTON TOWN (MORRIS): Morris sends Dubravka the wrong way, but did so a little too keenly with the referee having not blown his whistle. Although he has to try again, the Luton striker does exactly the same and the visitors hit the front.

62' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 2-4 LUTON TOWN (ADEBAYO): It is a devastating counter by Luton. With Trippier out of position, Doughty advances into the space before finding Barkley. The latter waits for Adebayo to get onside before teeing up the striker, who neatly slots past Dubravka.

67' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 3-4 LUTON TOWN (TRIPPIER): The Magpies skipper arrives late in the box to meet Guimaraes' clever cross at the far post, before brilliantly volleying past Kaminski.

73' - GOAL!!! NEWCASTLE UNITED 4-4 LUTON TOWN (BARNES): Making his first appearance since September, Barnes is found by Miley, who did well to dispossess Barkley. The former Leicester City man advances towards the edge of the penalty area, before brilliantly slotting past Kaminski to level matters.