Allardyce fumes as Boro hold Magpies

NEWCASTLE boss Sam Allardyce was an unhappy man after seeing his side leaving Middlesbrough with just a point after twice taking the lead.

Allardyce was delighted to see Mark Viduka open his Magpies account with his 150th goal in British football, and with Charles N’Zogbia’s earlier stunning strike.

However, he was hugely disappointed with the two his side conceded as defensive frailty — something which will not be improved by injuries to Stephen Carr and Peter Ramage — once again cost them dear.

Allardyce said: “We have conceded two and that is totally out of order, especially when you have been in front twice.

“It is just unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. If Newcastle are to be successful, we have got to cut that out. We are bitterly disappointed that we have not clinched the three points.”

The travelling supporters among a crowd of 28,875 left the Riverside Stadium relatively happy despite seeing Mido cancel out N’Zogbia’s strike and then former Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca do the same 10 minutes from time after Viduka’s expert 77th-minute finish.

Among them for the first time was owner Mike Ashley, sporting a black and white shirt on the day when the club once again denied speculation that he is ready to sell the club on.

Chairman Chris Mort issued a denial via the club website and also insisted he had received no offer for striker Obafemi Martins.

Opposite number Gareth Southgate was delighted with the application of his players, especially defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Luke Young, who started with only a few days of training under their belts after injury.

However, Southgate was disappointed with the abuse aimed at Mido by the travelling supporters, who was booked for over-celebrating his goal in front of them.

He said: “We had to get him to calm down a bit in the first half after the goal — he got booked. I always find it strange that 3,000 people are allowed to abuse one person and nothing is done, and then when the boot is on the other foot, he gets into trouble.

“In terms of civil liberties, I find that a strange situation.”

Meanwhile, Southgate revealed striker Jeremie Aliadiere was knocked unconscious by a clash with Steven Taylor which he did not remember when he came around.

Opta Fact: Newcastle have not managed to keep a clean sheet away from home in 15 games.

Opta Fact: Boro’ have only managed to win three of the 23 fixtures against Newcastle in the Premier League.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Taylor, Boateng (Cattermole 83), Rochemback, Arca, Downing, Mido, Aliadiere (Sanli 73).

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Carr (Ramage 6), Taylor, Rozehnal, N’Zogbia, Butt, Geremi, Smith, Milner, Martins (Owen 72), Viduka, Ramage (Cacapa 58).

Referee: Mike Dean.