Habib Beye's dramatic last-minute header gave Newcastle a 2-1 victory over Birmingham after a tight game at a rain-lashed St James's Park.

The visitors had taken the lead early in the first half through Cameron Jerome, but Newcastle were bolstered by the introduction of Mark Viduka half-way through the first half and they equalised via an Obafemi Martins penalty.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the second period and Alex McLeish's men appeared to have earned a deserved point before Beye's last-gasp intervention.

After a rather subdued opening, Birmingham stunned the home side by taking the lead with just eight minutes gone.

Rafael Schmitz aimed a long ball from the back towards Jerome, and he did well to hold off David Rozehnal and round Shay Given before rolling the ball into the net.

The home supporters began to sound restless as their side showed some sloppy touches in midfield, but gradually they began to assert themselves and chances soon followed.

Rozehnal crashed a header against the post from Geremi's corner after eighteen minutes, but the referee's whistle had already gone for a push.

Maik Taylor then came to the visitors' rescue for the first time when he denied Martins at point-blank range as the Nigerian attacked an in-swinging free-kick, and soon after James Milner dragged his shot wide after cutting into the box from the left.

Sam Allardyce was forced into a change after half an hour, but the introduction of Viduka for Nicky Butt added a much-needed element of deliberation to Newcastle's attacking play, and after a spell of concerted pressure they were awarded a penalty.

Martins was tripped by Matthew Sadler as he attacked a left-wing cross, and the former Internazionale man picked himself up to place the ball into the corner despite Taylor's best efforts.

Jerome forced a sharp save from Given after getting on the end of a cross from Daniel de Ridder, but as the half progressed the home side looked increasingly likely to snatch a second.

Taylor did well to tip over a close-range Milner effort after another fantastic free-kick from N'Zogbia, and when the resulting corner was cleared to the edge of the box Milner's rising shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Newcastle were roared off the field by their fans at half-time, but in the opening exchanges of the second half they struggled to get to grips with Birmingham's lively approach play.

Sebastian Larsson spurned a glorious opportunity to put Birmingham ahead when he lashed the ball wide from 15 yards, and Jerome showed a great turn of pace as he ghosted into the Newcastle box and played in a low cross from the left that Rozehnal turned behind for a corner.

But as the half advanced Newcastle gradually began to pen their opponents back.

Milner saw a low shot bend just wide and Alan Smith couldn't keep his left-footed half-volley on target, while Martins's right-footed curler drew a good save from Taylor with five minutes remaining.

As the game neared the ninety-minute mark Newcastle were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after N'Zogbia had been upended by Fabrice Muamba.

Substitute Emre curled his free-kick goalwards and Jerome stuck out an arm to block it, but the home side's furious hand-ball claims fell on deaf ears as Rob Styles waved the penalty appeal away.

The home fans were still seething as their side won a corner on the right-hand side.

Emre curled it in towards the near post and Beye got across his marker to deflect the ball down and into the roof of the net with his head.

The goal sparked jubilant scenes on the Newcastle bench, while McLeish could only look on as a point that had seemed so close was snatched away at the death.

Tom Williams / Eurosport