Magpies manager Allardyce can't make a case for his defence

Only the telling touch of Mark Viduka spared another embarrassing defeat for a club with one finger hovering over the self-destruct button.

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Allardyce could do little more than extol the positive after scraping a point from a side marooned at the foot of the Barclays Premier League, one which had lost seven successive games before their trip to face supposedly rejuvenated Newcastle.

There remains something wrong with the team slowly evolving under a manager who has now been in charge for seven months.

For starters, Newcastle still cannot defend, a point even their manager did not shy away from.

"There are signs we are more resilient but then all of a sudden that problem crops up," he said.

"We have to continue to work on it. All four central defenders are now fit and we have more options to tidy that area up.

"Our basic defending today has allowed the opposition to have two shots on target and score two and we had numerous chances to convert more than two goals."

That, in itself, was damning enough.

Derby had managed one League goal on their travels before yesterday.

They have won only one game all season, against Newcastle in September.

With a touch more resolve and belief they would have beaten them again yesterday, a point Paul Jewell, surprisingly downbeat, did not miss.

The Derby manager said: "When you come close to the end of the game and you see the late goal it is a kick in the teeth.

"If it was a great goal then fair enough but our defending for the two goals was shambolic. It has been a trait for us. That is why we are bottom. The performance in general was terrific. But I am a realist. I know we have it all to do.

"All I can ask is that the players give me everything they have got. We are gradually improving to show how we want it done. At least we looked a goal threat, we passed it well and we were positive.

"On three or four occasions, with a bit more care and confidence, we could have scored, even at 2-2."

His side had stunned St James' Park after just six minutes. Giles Barnes's burgeoning talent has struggled in such a woeful side but his fierce shot was a reminder of his ability.

Shay Given could not get down quick enough to his right but it was the slight jump from David Rozenhal in evading the ball that was most alarming.

Desperation had grown as Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins saw a shot cleared off the line and an effort from Habib Beye was saved.

Then in the 27th minute, Alan Smith's effort, fighting for the ball on the ground, eventually paid off with Mark Viduka emerging to drill a shot past Stephen Bywater.

The goal was met with relief but for all the possession that followed Newcastle created precious little, despite Allardyce's claim to the contrary.

By the 52nd minute Derby had restored their lead and unrest rumbled down from the St James' stands.

Derby's second goal again showed Rozenhal's weaknesses.

A long ball was flicked on by Steve Howard and then deftly played into the path of Kenny Miller by Gary Teale. Miller, who sunk Newcastle at Pride Park, had the calmness to fire past Given.

At that point composure would probably have got Derby home.

Instead, route one proved profitable for Allardyce.

A punt from Given in the 87th minute prompted reckless defending from Derby's central defenders.

Darren Moore came across to deal with a ball that should have been looked after by Dean Leacock, but with Martins causing unrest, Moore sliced a header into the path of Viduka who again showed an assured touch in front of goal, immediately striking a half-volley past Bywater.

Allardyce said: "We got something out of the game. In terms of creating opportunities we were very good.

"Their keeper made numerous saves and we missed loads of chances. We are disappointed with result but we are very, very pleased with the performance."

That was surely stretching it.