Despite the high stakes and the unbelievable tension, it was a great little contest, and a pretty good spectacle. Littered with errors, yes, but that was inevitable given the recent form of both teams and the position they find themselves in.

The committment of the black ‘n whites has frequently been called into question this season – but not tonight. In fact, I couldn’t fault any of the 22 players for their committment to their respective causes.

Despite getting off to the worst possible start, the Boro players seemed the more nervous, and I think the atmosphere may just have affected them a little. We had the best of the 1st half without creating a whole lot, and too often leaving ourselves vulnerable on the break.

Guthrie was our main creative influence via his corners, which were generally excellent – with Taylor thumping one in for the equaliser. He was finding the ideal corner – the one that only just eludes the 1st man.

As has been the case recently, we started running out of steam around the hour. For a spell then Boro got on top, and things began to look rather ominous. For whatever reason, Jonas stopped playing – either fatigue or possibly an injury – and he and Owen were replaced with Lovenkrands and Martins – and who proved to be the match-winners.

Martins was really lively, and made an immediate impact with the Boro defenders tiring. Lovenkrands ended the contest finishing off a good move with a neat finish.

Our much-criticised midfield did really well tonight, all working their socks off for the cause. With Beye and Duff both getting forward whenever possible, we were often at full stretch defensively, particularly on the break, and several last-ditch tackles were needed to prevent a second Boro goal, which would probably have proven terminal. However, Harper was never under any concerted pressure. This was probably just as well as he seemed to me to be particularly nervy tonight.

Viduka was quite superb up front, and showed precisely what we have missed because of his fragile fitness. Owen, I’m afraid was largely anonymous again, apart from one guided header from a Viduka cross that brought a good save. He just looks lost, and rather than simply having ‘lost a yard’ of pace, he now looks utterly pedestrian. He’s a very sad sight actually.

I thought Damien Duff was a revelation at LB. He defended really well, made tackles, and won a surprising number of balls in the air for a midget. He was my MOTM.

I was dreading going along tonight, and went fearing the worst. In the event, it turned out to be quite a spectacle; one I’ll remember for quite a while. For once, our heroes didn’t let us down, and thrillingly have created a chink of light. The question is can they take advantage of tonight’s massive effort and make the final breakthrough?

At least they’ve given themselves a chance – and all of us renewed hope.

Our defence were superb. Despite Middlesborough’s possession in the last 3rd/ crosses into our box we limited them to very few chances thanks to the back 4. Enrique was the only exception in that his distribution was awful.

However he defended well and I feel he’s being forced to play it long due to the lack of a creative outlet in centre midfield.

N’zogbia continues to depress me. With every chance he wastes, the case for arguing it’s the ‘management’ of him that is at fault as opposed to his own attitude is getting weaker and weaker. Downing had a very good game today but N’zogbia made him look world class.

Overall we have to be pleased with 2 draws away from home against Boro and Chelsea. The fact that we have 2 clean sheets is great for confidence too. The defence is really improving. We’ve got 2 hard games out of the way now. Sunderland play Man UTD next week whereas we have a winnable game at home to Stoke.

Taking Martins off was a strange decision. Having said that, in the 2nd half Boro looked more likely to win it. Martins is always liable to lose the ball unlike Owen who is at his worst consistently tidy in posession. So perhaps it wasn’t a bad call. On one occassion Owen and Viduka linked up well and went very close to winning it.

We still need to address the lack of a threat going forward but with Butt and Guthrie in the middle we’re never going to create chance after chance. We could desperately do with getting Barton back on the pitch.

Kinnear’s Newcastle United fail to lose again! I think we’ve only lost 2 under him altogether. To continue with Clarky’s analogy, we’re continuing to build brick by brick and rather refreshingly for once it looks as though we’re building from the back.

Verdicts from those underneath the smog who weren’t contesting with dodgy webcasts are welcome! And if you wondering why they’ve called Smoggies, check out these pictures below! (Ed.)

There were some signs of general improvement, particularly in the second half, but for me we still have problems in midfield where we were never really able to establish any degree of control, apart from a spell in the 2nd half during which we scored.

Once again, we failed to create many clearcut chances, were frequently weak in the tackle, and were guilty of giving the ball away far too often.

I’m afraid Nicky Butt was once again the most guilty in this regard, and it was this propensity to give the ball away that invited the late pressure from Boro that lead to their equaliser.

There were a few decent performances. Individually the defenders did ok, and Taylor and Cacapa made some excellent last ditch tackles and blocks, but as a unit they are still unconvincing.

Sad again, but I have to say that the keeper just doesn’t help them with his dithering. N’Zogbia was caught out of position too often for my comfort, but he did some good things going forward.

Duff had a decent performance, and Barton improved markedly in the second half, especially when he moved into the middle when Emre was subbed. For me, Emre once again largely flattered to deceive – however, his free kick for Owen’s near post headed goal was absolutely sublime.

Owen had an early goal very harshly chalked off for a non-existent foul on Schwarzer, who appeared to simply drop the ball, and also put a far post header in the net only to have that one ruled out because Zog’s cross had curled just out if play and back in.

Owen looked more lively than of late, and I thought he looked a little sharper and pacier. Alan Smith was kicked from pillar to post by the big brute, Wheater who was extremely fortunate not be sent off for his second crude first half foul on Smith.

As ever, Smudger stuck to it, and won a few flick-ons, but his overall contribution was disappointing. He was subbed in the second half, after a cheap yellow looked to have wound him up.

Not a convincing performance, but a point gained I suppose. Beye and Faye may improve us defensively, and hopefully Owen will continue to get sharper with games under his belt.

However, I just can’t see what KK can do with this midfield with the personnel at his disposal. Unless or until we can start to dominate in midfield against even the weaker Premier League teams, especially at home, I’m afraid we will continue to struggle.

Newcastle responded well with Emre makes a run forward and skips three Boro challenges before slipping the ball wide to Duff, the Irish winger twists and turns before tries to cross the ball but deflected behind by Young. Emre’s high corner is met by Taylor who is trying hard at the near post.

Taylor unable to directed the header to the goal and the ball runs away to the right where Barton retrieves. He hooks a high ball to the far post again where Taylor wins it but his effort was be able to clears by the Boro defenders.

A couple efforts from Downing who cuts inside from the left and takes aim for Given’s far corner, but Given scramble it and palm it wide. But the ball stays in play, O’Neill tries to beat Given again at his near post but the angle is tight and Given easily saves.

Newcastle finally breaks the deadlock in 59 minutes. N’Zogbia who tries to cut into Boro’s territory was being tripped down by Young on the left flank. Free-kick in a promising position and Emre once again take the dead ball situation and whips it over to the near post.

Michael Owen ghosted in and glance beyond Mark Schwarzer to score his fifth of the season, St. James’ Park errupted. United take control and in 65 minutes it was Barton who had the chance to double United lead. Owen is crowded out on the edge of the area when he tries to skip around two Boro challenges.

The ball runs free for Barton 20 yards out. He guide it past Schwarzer with a perfect low left-footed strike, but the Aussie stopper is equal to it and saves low to his right.

Soon after the goal Kevin Keegan make couple of changes with Emre makes way for James Milner and Mark Viduka replaces Alan Smith in 67minutes.

And then there’s another great chance for Newcastle to kill the game. N’Zogbia and Duff combine brilliantly down the left and N’Zogbia whips a perfect cross in with Milner pokes the ball but unfortunately the ball was directly into Schwarzer’s arms from about one yard.

The visitor is also have one decent chance on goal, but we have Cacapa! Starts from Downing takes a hit towards goal, but hits Wheater, Given fumbles and, just as it looks like Aliadiere is about to pounce from six yards. Given is totally stranded, but Cacapa slides in from nowhere to clear the ball away.

Boro makes changes, Adam Johnson replaces Fabio Rochemback.

Then, with three minutes left the disaster came. It was the ex-macKem’s Julio Arca who clips a cross over and the gigantic German defender Robert Huth climbs above Stephen Carr to snatch a late leveller for the Teessiders.

I pray to God that we will not another hummiliation as the visitor forcing to get the winner against us. They almost got it twice when O’Neil cross ball bounces around inside the penalty area and it was Huth again to hooks goalwards. It looks destined for the top corner but Given is in well positioned to keep us save.

In the injury time, I have to thank the linesman this time for his flag after Lee had turned the ball into the United goal from Downing’s free-kick. The replays show it was the right decision with the striker a yard offside and Boro are denied the late winner.

What a game, I have to admit that we’re really missing both Beye and Faye. Stephen Carr is not bad today but he was too short to deal with couple of Boro’s crosses, and it was Huth that beat him in couple occasions.

Keegan will have to work even harder, and with away match at Villa next week, I only hope that the Lads will keep improving and can get something out from the Villa Park. Keep the faith! We will be there!

TEAMS LINE UP:

NEWCASTLE UNITED FC:
Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, Damien Duff, Nicky Butt, Emre (James Milner, 66), Joey Barton, Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith (Mark Viduka, 67)
Subs: Shola Ameobi, David Edgar, Fraser Forster

MIDDLESBROUGH FC:
Mark Schwarzer, Luke Young, Julio Arca (c), Gary O’Neil, Robert Huth, Stewart Downing, Lee Catermole (Dong-Gook Lee, 71), David Wheater, Emanuel Pogatetz, Fabio Rochemback (Adam Johnson, 80), Jeremie Aliadiere
Subs: Ross Turnbull, George Boateng, Jonathan Grounds

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: tbc

Emre, missed the last three matches following the red card against Stoke. This is his first Newcastle game under Kevin Keegan and he is determined to repay the glowing praise from Keegan yesterday. While James Milner and Mark Viduka were dropped to the bench.

Newcastle in search for the first goal for King Kev immediately attacking the visitor and in just three minutes we should have been lead by one goal.

First Barton got the chance to open the scoreline, he gets the ball to feet inside the six yards but his shot is deflected away for a corner. And here comes the controversy when Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer claim the ball from Emre’s corner and fumbles it.

Then he falls into Owen, who is toe-poking the loose ball into the net. It should be a goal but the referee Mike Dean inexplicably blows for a foul.

And for the visitor side, they have David Wheater booked for a terrible sliding tackle from behind on Smith. Emre who took it, blasts the ball and have deflected by Pogatetz for a corner. This time, the delivery wasn’t good as the previous one and bounces out for a goal kick.

Newcastle have another goal been disallowed inside the 20 minutes, but this time I think it was the right decision as the ball is unfortunately drifted out of play from Emre’s corner, poor Owen who is heading the ball home at the far post.

After that terrible corner, Newcastle are beginning to pile on the pressure and The Magpies have two corners in quick succession. One of them worked short to N’Zogbia and darts into the box past Young but cannot past the challenge from Downing who gives the visitors a chance to breath.

And again inside the half hour mark, we have a penalty claim being turn down by the almighty referee Mike Dean. The ball strikes Pogatetz’s arm in the Boro box. Boro who is escape once again, suddenly getting the chance to counter attacking United side with Aliadiere, Young and Rochemback. Thanks to Steven Taylor who is blocked a shot from Rochemback.

Then it was rather bit dissapointing minutes as the visitors have couple of good chances to attack our side and the clearance was little awfull and nearly cost us bad. Taylor almost turns the ball into his own net after slicing Pogatetz’s low, near post cross, luckily we have Shay Given in the right place to save.

The Magpies have couple chances near the end of the first half with Damien Duff running down the left before sending a high far post cross for Stephen Carr, but Pogatetz challenged the ball and get it first before Carr to flick it clear.

Goalles half-time at St. James’ Park.

TEAMS LINE UP:

NEWCASTLE UNITED FC:
Shay Given, Stephen Carr, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, Claudio Cacapa, Damien Duff, Nicky Butt, Emre, Joey Barton, Michael Owen (c), Alan Smith
Subs: James Milner, Shola Ameobi, David Edgar, Fraser Forster, Mark Viduka

MIDDLESBROUGH FC:
Mark Schwarzer, Luke Young, Julio Arca (c), Gary O’Neil, Robert Huth, Stewart Downing, Lee Catermole, David Wheater, Emanuel Pogatetz, Fabio Rochemback, Jeremie Aliadiere
Subs: Ross Turnbull, Dong-Gook Lee, George Boateng, Adam Johnson, Jonathan Grounds

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: tbc