Thomas Sorensen turned back the clock three years at St James' Park.
The Danish international keeper brilliantly saved an Alan Shearer penalty at the Gallowgate End to deny United victory ten minutes from time.
While Sorensen claimed hero status, his former Sunderland team-mate Gavin McCann was the villain when he was sent off after 69 minutes for a second bookable offence.
Villa led with an 11th minute goal from Dion Dublin before United hit back was a last-gasp first-half equaliser from the classy Laurent Robert.
United started off brightly with Shearer curling just wide and then followed up with Robert heading wide. A surging Shola Ameobi, in his 100th appearance, charged down the right saw a deep cross where the unmarked Frenchman headed down and wide.
Villa made their possession tell and a seventh minute free-kick from Thomas Hitzlsperger earned Lee Bowyer a booking for encroachment. The free-kick was moved ten yards forward but as with his first effort the German drove straight at the well-marshalled wall.
Matt Messias then handed a second yellow card within 60 seconds when Gary Speed was booked for a challenge on Hitzlsperger and Villa capitalised by storming in front after 11 minutes from a corner.
Gareth Barry floated in the left-wing kick for Dion Dublin to power in a header The equaliser came from an Olivier Bernard throw-in that was played in by Ameobi.
Shearer refused to give up a lost cause and Barry cleared only as far as the outstanding Robert who controlled and volleyed beyond the despairing Sorensen.
McCann was yellow-carded on 58 minutes for lashing out at Bowyer and dismissed just 11 minutes later after hauling down Robert in full flight.
With the home fans wanting Newcastle to go for the jugular they had a glorious opportunity to settle the issue ten minutes from time when Barry needlessly handled a Robert corner, but Sorensen guessed right with the spot-kick.
Sir Bobby Robson could not believe his side had not claimed maximum points.
"We are disappointed and justifiably frustrated. We've had enough chances in the last four days against Villa and West Brom to have won four matches and we haven't won any.
"I've no crib about Alan Shearer missing the penalty. I leave those things for Alan to sort out.
"It's disappointing because we are playing well. Alan thought Sorensen would go the other way but the lad guessed right."