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Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is still waiting for his first win over Boro as a manager, as first he saw Charles N'Zogbia's impressive curling effort cancelled out by Mido, then Mark Viduka's late strike matched by Julio Arca.

Newcastle started the brighter of the two sides, giving the Middlesbrough fans plenty of opportunity to boo former player Mark Viduka when he came anywhere near the ball.

The Australian forward had a good opening period, linking up well with strike partner Obafemi Martins, who was preferred to a fit-again Michael Owen.

One Viduka ball over the top released Martins, but he was forced away by Jonathon Woodgate and fired well wide of the near post.

Newcastle made the breakthrough in the 21st minute. Charles N'Zogbia was allowed to cut inside by George Boateng, and the French left back ghosted past him and Luke Young before unleashing a stunning right foot curling shot with his weaker right foot that sailed over Mark Schwarzer.

Middlesbrough were only behind for six minutes, and it was Mido's second goal for the club in as many games that levelled the match.

Fabio Rochemback chipped the ball over the top, and the Egyptian striker chested well on the turn before holding off David Rozenhal and taking the ball round Steve Harper to roll it into the empty net with the outside of his left boot.

The former Tottenham man was booked for his celebration, after he run over to the away fans corner and made gestures at the Newcastle fans.

The tempo and rhythm of the game decreased in the second half, with both sides committing fouls and having problems with injuries.

Newcastle will now have a problem at right back, after Peter Ramage landed awkwardly and injured his knee. He was replaced by Claudio Cacapa, after himself replacing Stephen Carr in the fifth minute.

Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere was then knocked unconscious after Peter Taylor elbowed him in the head, seemingly by accident. He was replaced by Tuncay, and one minute later Newcastle took the lead again.

Mark Viduka received the ball in a crowded Boro box with his back to goal. He took advantage of a confused offside appeal by the Boro defence and turned Woodgate expertly before firing home on the volley into the bottom corner with Schwarzer rooted to the spot. It was the Australian's first goal for his new club, against his old one, now his local rivals.

It only took the home side three minutes to equalise this time, and there was another local twist in the tale. Julio Arca, who had stood out in midfield, received to ball on the edge of the Newcastle penalty area. The Argentinian, who played for many years at Sunderland, chested the ball calmly and struck a stunning left-footed volley into the right hand bottom corner, giving Steve Harper no chance.

The match ended on a sour note for Boro, as the booking of Fabio Rochemback was their sixth, meaning they face an automatic fine from the FA.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport