It’s grim up north after dour derby

Newcastle 0 Middlesbrough 0

Newcastle and Middlesbrough played out a dour stalemate as the quest for Europe turned into a grind at St James’ Park.

But for Boro keeper Brad Jones’ superb 75th-minute save from James Milner, the Magpies might have ended their run of five successive defeats with a victory.

But they had to make do with a draw as the Teessiders banked another point for their UEFA Cup fund to ease further ahead of chasing Tottenham.

The visitors also had a chance to snatch a win when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was played in by Doriva on 55 minutes.

But he chipped his shot straight at Shay Given to let the home side off the hook.

Milner did his best to inspire Newcastle to victory with a committed second-half display, while

Boro boss Steve McClaren threw on rested England winger Stewart Downing with 25 minutes remaining.

The teams could not be separated however in what was a far from pulsating derby as Newcastle teenager Charles N’Zogbia fired over at the death.

Both clubs started the season in Europe and with qualification for next term a firm objective, and that remained the case before kick-off.

Newcastle were desperately disappointed to have to play in the UEFA Cup after missing out on the Champions League for the second time in succession, while the Teessiders fleetingly flirted with the top four after a hugely encouraging start to the season.

However, at St James’ Park tonight, Boro were attempting to cling on to seventh place, while the Magpies were pinning their hopes on the InterToto Cup, a competition of which they thought they had seen the last.

This season’s exertions on the continent have left both clubs with treatment rooms resembling battlefield hospitals and it was perhaps inevitable that two patched-up sides would not produce a classic.

In the event, the fare on offer before the break was desperate despite plenty of perspiration from the home side with Boro content to try to strike on the counter-attack without any notable success.

The visitors had the upper hand in midfield with George Boateng, Bolo Zenden and Ray Parlour dominating.

But Given did not have a single save to make before the break as Andy O’Brien, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Robbie Elliott and Peter Ramage kept Hasselbaink and Szilard Nemeth at bay with few scares.

McClaren’s defence was similarly untroubled, especially after Kieron Dyer limped off just 35 minutes into the game when the gamble to risk his hamstring back-fired.

Newcastle did, however, create the best two chances of the opening period, Milner scuffing a 20th-minute volley straight at Jones and substitute Shola Ameobi heading wide with his first touch from Milner’s 37th-minute corner.

McClaren had a fresh injury concern within seconds of the restart when N’Zogbia careered into Boateng from behind and the Dutchman needed extensive treatment before limping gingerly back on to the pitch.

But the visitors might have been in front with 52 minutes gone when Parlour broke down the right and crossed for Nemeth, who arrived at pace to drill a low shot inches wide.

Ameobi hooked a volley well off target seconds later after recycling Elliott’s hopeful long ball, but Boro should have been in front on 55 minutes.

Doriva’s pass drifted over O’Brien’s head and fell perfectly for Hasselbaink, who controlled well before trying to chip Given and succeeded only in lifting the ball into the goalkeeper’s arms.

As the game opened up, Milner drove a right-wing cross in between Ameobi and Ugo Ehiogu and neither got a touch, but the temperature was at least rising.

However, it was Newcastle’s turn to go close on 59 minutes when Milner pulled a corner square to N’Zogbia, whose curling first-time effort ripped into the side-netting.

McClaren made his move with 25 minutes remaining when he sent on Downing for Zenden but it was the home side who finished the stronger with Darren Ambrose whipping a long-range effort over the bar on 72 minutes.

Milner was proving the home side’s most dangerous player as the game entered the final 15 minutes and only a brilliant save from Jones kept out his 75th-minute drive after Southgate had blocked Shearer’s flick-on.

The Boro skipper was in the wars minutes later when he was left bloodied by an aerial challenge on Shearer but he characteristically battled on as the game approached its conclusion.

Newcastle wasted a stoppage-time free-kick awarded for Doriva’s trip on Shearer when the striker attempted to feed Ramage instead of shooting and the Magpies’ skipper got his first real sight of goal in the 93rd-minute but headed Ameobi’s cross straight at Jones.

With just seconds remaining, N’Zogbia met Shearer’s cross in front of goal but blasted his shot over to bring a disappointing end to a disappointing night.