Ahmed Elmohamady came off from the bench to deny Newcastle victory and boost Aston Villa's bid for Premier League survival.
The Magpies looked to be heading for a second win in four days when Dwight Gayle, who had replaced Matt Ritchie just seconds earlier, fired them into a 68th-minute lead with his first Newcastle goal in more than two years.
His goal came courtesy of another Newcastle substitute after striker Andy Carroll supplied the cross that helped put Gayle through.
However Elmohamady – who was signed by Steve Bruce during his time in charge of the Black Cats, Hull and Villa – squeezed an 83rd-minute header past Martin Dubravka to force a 1-1 draw which few could deny they deserved on a night.
Villa remain in the relegation zone, but only on goal difference and manager Dean Smith said: "It's an annoying point. The majority of the game I thought we were the better team. Our defensive display was good but we have to be more clinical."
Newcastle are in 13th place, just a point shy of the 40-point marker. Manager Steve Bruce said: "We would have all accepted [the points total] but we can't forget that we have a great opportunity to push on a bit now.
"Can we push on and catch the teams above us and finish the season looking upwards, rather than just looking over our shoulders?"
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