Kinnear keeps Toon upwardly mobile

IT is always best to expect the unexpected at Newcastle United, so perhaps the notion of the club being hauled onto an even keel by Joe Kinnear — frozen out of football for four years, with question marks over his health and whose methods appeared to belong in football’s stone age — is not so surprising.

The 61-year-old Dubliner has been appointed as Newcastle’s manager until the end of the season after dragging the club away from the bottom of the table and, for his players, it is a rare ray of sunshine in a season shrouded in turmoil.

“It’s a great thing for all people concerned with the football side of the club because we know what is going on,” Mark Viduka, the striker, said after the Newcastle revival continued with this scrappy derby draw with Middlesbrough.

“Up until Friday, anybody could have been in in any amount of time.

“It’s a great thing for us, a bit of stability. Joe is a nice guy. To be honest, I have just started to get to know him and hopefully he can push us forward.”

The stalemate at the Riverside, which came seven days after an identical result at leaders Chelsea, proved a further boost to morale on Tyneside, although it also left them without a league win in four games.

Kinnear’s side host promoted Stoke on Saturday, and only a three-point haul will convince their doubters that they have what it takes to turn around a disastrous season both on and off the pitch.

Viduka said: “It’s a very busy December and it would be great to get a win at St James’, not just for us, but for the supporters.

“It has been a tough run for them as well, and I hope we can get together and forget about all the distractions around the place and start picking up points and winning games and playing some nice football.”

The Magpies left Teesside having been denied victory by the thickness of the crossbar when Obafemi Martins hammered a 35th-minute shot against the woodwork.

Viduka thumped an injury-time volley into keeper Ross Turnbull’s midriff on his return to action following six months on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.

However, a goal would have been harsh on his former employers, who edged the contest and had several golden opportunities to win it.

Record signing Afonso Alves passed up a series of chances to end his own personal barren run, and it was full-back Justin Hoyte who very nearly became the unlikely hero when he played a one-two with Jeremie Aliadiere before forcing a 75th-minute save from Shay Given.

Viduka’s entrance meant another premature departure for Martins, whose displeasure was clear as he headed straight down the tunnel.

Assistant manager Chris Hughton – Kinnear made a swift exit and did not conduct a press conference – was quick to play down his actions.

He said: “Yes, he was disappointed, but he is okay. What we have at the moment is a little bit more competition for places, which is what we have been striving for, certainly in the last few months. We have got some bodies back. You want players to be disappointed to come off, and certainly not to be happy.”

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Turnbull 6, Hoyte 6, Wheater 6, Pogatetz 7, Taylor 6, Aliadiere 5 (Mido 77, 5), Arca 5, Digard 7, Downing 6, Tuncay 5, Alves 5.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Emnes, Johnson, Hines, Grounds, Walker.

NEWCASTLE: Given 7, Beye 7, Coloccini 6, Bassong 8, Jose Enrique 6, Gutierrez 6, Guthrie 6, Butt 6, N’Zogbia 6, Martins 6 (Viduka 65, 5), Owen 4.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Geremi, Taylor, Edgar, Carroll.

REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) 6: Precious little flow to the game although that was hardly the officials’ fault. Generally kept his cards in his pocket.

MATCH RATING: * Wretched. No passion, no panache and, ultimately, no point in wasting your time watching.