Lucky Milner is a face-saver as Allardyce and Keane share the spoils

According to Allardyce, his team had upheld the primary requirement of football lore. "The most important thing is you don't lose a derby," he said. "And we haven't. It would have been unthinkable to lose."

Allardyce breathed lightly as he spoke, because he knew deep in his heart that Sunderland had wasted enough chances to have won more than one match. Michael Chopra, once a Newcastle player, struck the crossbar, having already been denied twice from becoming an overnight idol on Wearside by saves from Steve Harper.

Sunderland's opportunities also included a shot from Grant Leadbitter hammered out of harm's way by Alan Smith with Harper in trouble,while the midfielder also wasted a free header in the 33rd minute as Newcastle's defence came under heavy pressure.

Perhaps the most negligent miss of all was perpetrated by Kenwyne Jones, a source of constant irritation to Newcastle with his strength, power and clever lines of running. However, in the 66th minute, having cleverly brought the ball under control, Jones lost his bearings and shot woefully wide.

The disappointment was amplified for home supporters because, a minute earlier, Newcastle had found an improbable route to salvation. James Milner, wide on the left, cut inside on to his favoured right foot. He created enough space to drive the ball hard, and low in the direction of the far post.

Sunderland centre-back Paul McShane, who had a fine game, lunged for the ball, but missed. Was goalkeeper Craig Gordon unsighted? Whatever his story, Milner's cross-cum- shot passed him as he was reduced like the rest of the 47,701 in the ground to the role of powerless spectator.

Milner wheeled away to celebrate in front of the pocket of Newcastle fans after his strike went in off the far post. "Whether it was a shot or cross can be debated," said Allardyce. "For me, it was a shot. And it put us back in the game."

For Roy Keane, standing in the Sunderland dugout, it was neither cross nor shot. It was a poison arrow to slice apart the essence of his team's work.

"You can over-analyse goals, but any goal conceded is a disappointment and someone has to be to blame," he said, philosophically. "You always think you could have defended better as a team."

Like Allardyce, Keane was experiencing the Tyne-Wear derby for the first time. The occasion lived up to the stories he had heard.

"I sensed a couple of days ago, that this is a game that means so much to the people of Sunderland and Newcastle," he said. "I felt it in my bones. It certainly didn't let me down."

This is a judgment to be treated with respect, as Keane has been exposed to the tribal rivalries that exist between Celtic and Rangers, as well as knowing well what the Manchester derby means to those divided over United and City. There were fierce exchanges happening all over the pitch yesterday, but, with some inevitability, Joey Barton managed to plant a boot in the groin of Dickson Etuhu.

As the players left the field at half-time Etuhu registered his disapproval by laying his head in Barton's face. Keane, a man with a chequered past, of course, brushed the feud aside.

"Dickson's alive in the dressing room and he won't be leaving on a stretcher," he said. If Keane were an iconic Hollywood character, he would be Clint Eastwood's Harry Callahan.

"You've got to expect that playing against Barton, he's a tough lad," he added. "I wanted my players to be getting stuck in — and their performance was outstanding, different class. Poor finishing hurt us today.

"The table says we are the 15th best team — and that's about right. Our aim is to be better than that."

Allardyce had identified Jones as central to Sunderland's threat and deputed Smith to play a deep holding role to compete with the Trinidadian's aerial presence. Smith — in watching England coach Steve McClaren's squad as a striker — was more Owen Hargreaves than Michael Owen. Yet, Jones managed to outwit Newcastle as a team seven minutes after the interval.

He took a quick, short corner to Leadbitter, whose cross to the far post was met with a lacerating header by defender Danny Higginbotham 'ghosting' late into the penalty area.

Sunderland fans' euphoria soon died, however; a city silenced by a goal that may or may not have been a shot. Keane said wistfully: "I think Sam will be slightly happier than me today, but as with all derby games the most important thing is not to lose."