Ameobi rescues Magpies

Ameobi drilled home a 68th-minute penalty to cancel out Djibril Cisse's first-half strike as both sides emerged from a rip-roaring derby with something to show for their efforts.

However, the visitors were more than aggrieved at referee Howard Webb's decision to award the spot-kick for Steed Malbranque's challenge on Steven Taylor.

Cisse had put them in front 12 minutes before the break as they enjoyed the better of the first half, although the Magpies responded well after half-time and were well worth a point which did little to ease their relegation fears, but at least kept them out of the bottom three.

Ricky Sbragia's men would have taken the lead with 20 minutes gone had Kieran Richardson's free-kick not come back off the post and had debutant Kevin Nolan not cleared Kenwyne Jones' follow-up off the line.

Two minutes later, Andy Carroll looped a header on to Marton Fulop's crossbar.

Ameobi passed up a glorious opportunity when he fired high over after a good link-up down the right between Taylor and Damien Duff with 27 minutes gone, and Cisse took advantage when his chance arrived six minutes later.

He just about managed to hold his run to collect Dean Whitehead's through ball and, after Steve Harper had blocked his initial effort, stab the rebound into the empty net.

The visitors were pegged back with 68 minutes gone after Malbranque was adjudged to have felled Taylor inside the box. Ameobi took charge of the spot-kick and blasted it high to Fulop's left to send the Tyneside contingent into raptures.

Andy Reid smashed a left-foot missile inches wide with the last kick of the game.