Match report of this afternoon's home draw in the clash against Derby County
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Lacklustre Newcastle United had a late Mark Viduka equaliser to thank for salvaging a point which stretched their unbeaten record to four home games.
But the home faithful were far from happy as Newcastle conceded four points on the season to rock-bottom Derby, who twice led in the game.
In fact, Giles Barnes and Kenny Miller goals secured only a second away point of the season for the Pride Park outfit, who actually trebled their away goal haul for the campaign.
In between, Viduka had scored the first of his two goals as United fans witnessed those most rare of occasions - goals from open play.
Despite their almost impossible feat of trying to stave off relegation, Derby put up a gallant fight but will still be left with that unenviable statistic of being bottom of the league at the turn of the year.
Newcastle United fan Steve Howard went into this game as the only previous Derby player to score an away league goal this season when he netted in the 4-1 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Sam Allardyce made one change from the side that won at Fulham as skipper Geremi was left on the bench and Viduka was recalled.
Alan Smith was given the captain's armband for the first time in the league on what was his 250th Premier League appearance.
On the matter of milestones, long-serving Shay Given made his 450th career appearance, while Damien Duff was named on the bench his first senior team involvement since dislocating his foot at Portsmouth in April.
Claude Davis suffered an injury during the warm up and was replaced in the Derby side by American Eddie Lewis.
Newcastle came out of the traps flying, only to find themselves concede the first home goal at St. James' Park for the fifth successive game.
Miller - the match winner at Pride Park - did the spadework from a throw-in and teed up Barnes, who stroked a delightful right-foot shot beyond Given from 25 yards.
Newcastle went all out in search of an equaliser and Barnes popped up at the back post to head an Oba Martins header off the line after Jay McEveley had earlier done the same thing to deny Viduka.
But Viduka was not to be kept quiet and after 27 minutes claimed the ball off Smith on the edge of the box and curled a right footer beyond Stephen Bywater.
Just as they had done in the first half, Newcastle leaked another early goal after the break and David Rozenhal must shoulder the blame as he allowed Miller to get by him to reach a Howard flick and finish with some style.
Newcastle had plenty of the play without creating chances, while Howard smashed a half chance over the bar at the other end.
The pressure was eventually rewarded via route-one three minutes from time when Given's long ball was chested into the path of Viduka by Martins and the finish from 20 yards was measured to perfection.
Substitute Emre added some late fight to the side and flashed a shot narrowly wide, before the now customary jeers signalled the end of Newcastle's 2007 home programme. |
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