All square between Sunderland and Newcastle

HT: Sunderland 1 Newcastle 1

Shola Ameobi’s second goal of the week handed Newcastle a share of the spoils at half-time in their derby clash with Sunderland.

The 27-year-old, who had not found the back of the net in two years before Monday night, headed home a 30th-minute Geremi free-kick to level for the visitors.

Djibril Cisse had put the home side ahead 10 minutes earlier when he turned home Steed Malbranque’s shot at the far post as the Black Cats dominated the early exchanges.

Newcastle’s difficulties looked to be mounting when Butt signalled to the bench that he was struggling, although as Barton warmed up to a chorus of boos, he carried on.

Striker Shola Ameobi, who had seen little of the ball up to that point, was aggrieved not to be awarded a 27th-minute free-kick after going down under Ferdinand’s challenge on the edge of the box.

The former West Ham defender was in the thick of the action seconds later when he did well to cut out Martins’ cross after the striker broke free down the right.

Joe Kinnear’s men were finally starting to make an impact, and it took good blocks from Danny Collins and Ferdinand to deny first Duff and then Martins.

However, the equaliser arrived on the half-hour when, after Chimbonda had brought down Ameobi wide on the left, Geremi delivered the resulting free-kick to the far post for the unmarked Ameobi to head home his second goal of the week.

Butt left the field as the celebrations continued, and returned after treatment three minutes later.

Chimbonda was seeing far too much of the ball down the right for the liking of Magpies coach Chris Hughton, who repeatedly made his way into the technical area to call for greater vigilance.

Fulop endured a worrying period when he only half-dealt with two balls into the box as the Magpies forced a series of corners, although he claimed Duff’s 43rd-minute shot well after the winger had played a one-two with Martins.