Newcastle Utd 2 Middlesbrough 2Claims about Newcastle United being cursed need to be checked this morning. Two minutes and 35 seconds into injury-time, with Newcastle trailing 2-1 to a lively Middlesbrough, with the beginnings of "Souness out" refrains rumbling around the stadium and with Shay Given up for a last-ditch corner, Lee Clark swung a left boot at a weak Mark Schwarzer punched clearance and Newcastle had an equaliser.
The point salvaged means a stay of execution, another one, for Newcastle's beleaguered manager. A month ago, at the same Leazes End, Gareth Barry had squandered a late penalty for Aston Villa to spare Newcastle from defeat, and Clark's intervention yesterday should ensure that Graeme Souness remains.
Yesterday it emerged that one of Souness's assistants, Alan Murray, questioned the commitment of Stephen Carr after the full-back failed to appear at Tottenham on Saturday.
"I believe there was a bust-up, but it wasn't with me," Souness said sarcastically.
So another diversion will deflect attention from an average display against a Middlesbrough side who are only five points clear of the relegation zone.
Steve McClaren has plenty of concerns, but he was buoyed by the way his side fought back from Nolberto Solano's 27th-minute opener.
Boro, who have been hit by as many injuries as Newcastle, fielded 17-year-old Lee Cattermole in central midfield. On his full league debut Cattermole, along with his fellow teenager James Morrison, constantly pushed Newcastle back.
Understandably, McClaren was frustrated by Newcastle's equaliser; he had seen Mark Viduka miss a first-half sitter and claimed Robbie Elliott handled the ball two minutes before the interval - "a blatant penalty to me", McClaren said.
"It's a cruel game," he added. "Two points thrown away. It's certainly testing us at the moment, but we showed fantastic character. When the dust settles I'll be delighted with the performance."
There will be curious looks at Souness's assertion that Newcastle "lost two points - we bossed the game".
He said he had been feeling "mugged" at 2-1 and was relieved to be able to call Clark "a proper man" after the midfielder had made a point of running to the manager after his goal.
Gaizka Mendieta rippled the roof of the Newcastle net with a third-minute free-kick from 25 yards and, two minutes later, and 10 yards closer, fluffed an inviting volley.
Albert Luque started up front for Newcastle alongside Alan Shearer, which was a surprise given that the Spaniard had failed to warm up at Tottenham on Saturday until prompted. His commitment levels, too, may need questioning, and his finishing.
Set free on six minutes by a quick free-kick from Solano, Luque rounded Schwarzer with a neat touch of his left foot, but that brought the ball on to his right. The angle was still encouraging but he hit the outside of the post.
Viduka somehow stabbed over from four yards out, then Shola Ameobi was upended by Chris Riggott and Solano curled a sweet free-kick over the wall and in. But Boro continued to pass the ball better and Morrison broke down the right eight minutes into the second half to put in a cross converted by Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
With three minutes left Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink seized on a pass from Viduka, sprinted away from Jean-Alain Boumsong and slid a shot between Given's legs.
That provoked the "Souness out" chants. Clark's goal ensured that, as of last night, Souness is still in.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Ramage, Bramble, Boumsong, Elliott (Babayaro 45), Solano, Faye, Clark, Ameobi (N'Zogbia 45), Shearer, Luque. Subs not used: Harper, Chopra, Brittain. Goals: Solano 27, Clark 90.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Riggott, Southgate, Pogatetz, Morrison, Doriva, Mendieta (Bates 69), Cattermole, Viduka, Yakubu (Hasselbaink 74). Subs Not Used: Maccarone, Jones, Johnson. Booked: Hasselbaink, Bates. Goals: Yakubu 54, Hasselbaink 87.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
