Kevin Keegan is still searching for his first win since returning to Newcastle after hat-trick hero John Carew inspired a second-half comeback by Aston Villa.
The Magpies looked on course for their first win in nine English Premier League games after Michael Owen gave them a fourth-minute lead.
But Carew's treble blast after Wilfred Bouma's first ever Villa goal kept Martin O'Neill's side on course for a European spot.
Villa was transformed in the second 45 minutes after barely causing the visitors a problem in the opening 45 minutes.
And their fans taunted the travelling Toon Army with chants of 'we want Keegan out' after Carew had become Villa's leading scorer this season with nine goals.
Villa clearly missed the presence of the injured Gabriel Agbonlahor up front in the first half.
But the introduction of Marlon Harewood at half-time made a big difference and the former West Ham forward troubled Newcastle with his physical power.
Newcastle will take some heart from its first half performance with James Milner a threat from the right flank against the club he spent a season on loan with.
But Keegan will be concerned with the way his side was overwhelmed for long periods once Villa had stepped up a gear.
Newcastle went ahead after just four minutes courtesy of Owen's second goal in two games.
Damien Duff's initial cross was charged down but Milner picked up the loose ball and delivered an inviting cross towards the near post.
Owen and Steven Taylor attacked the ball but it was the England striker who got the crucial touch with a goal-bound header which brushed off Villa skipper Gareth Barry before entering the net.
It was a perfect pick-me-up for Owen after being left on the substitutes' bench by new England coach Fabio Capello throughout Wednesday's friendly international with Switzerland.
And it means he has moved above Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink into seventh place in the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers with 129 to his credit.
Villa tried to retaliate and Barry appealed in vain for a penalty after his fierce shot appeared to strike the hand of Joey Barton.
The deflection wrong-footed Given but also took some of the pace out of the shot and he was able to recover and retrieve the situation before the ball crossed the line.
Newcastle gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area 20 yards out after Taylor tugged at the shirt of Carew but Maloney curled his effort over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
Newcastle looked the better side and a reverse pass from Milner played in Owen but he lacked the necessary pace to sprint into the space opening up in front of him and Curtis Davies was able to make the tackle.
Young was being doubled-marked but still got in a cross which found its way to Olof Mellberg at the far post although he could not keep his shot down.
Villa's best chance of the first half came three minutes before the interval when Given did well to keep out a close-range header from Carew.
O'Neill decided to make a double half-time substitution replacing Mellberg and the ineffective Petrov with Craig Gardner and Harewood.
And the home side turned their fortunes around by striking twice in the first six minutes of the second half through Bouma and Carew.
After 48 minutes Bouma brought the Holte End to its feet with his first goal