Alan Pardew said:

"It was a magnificent effort. We said to the players before the game how important it was to the fans, we've now shown how important it is to us.

"Playing an hour with 10 men, if we could have just seen it out it would have been one of the greatest victories ever here. But it's a great point and I'm very proud of my players."

About Tiote's sending-off: 

"At first I didn't think it was that bad, but looking back at it again we can't have any complaints. But what a response from the rest of the group.

"Maybe if Coloccini had stayed on, he would have seen that out. He was absolutely phenomenal today.

"If you want an example of a centre-half playing where you have got to head it, kick it, cover people, get in the right position and then have the calmness to play, that was your example.

"I come from a famous football club, West Ham, and that was like watching Bobby Moore today. He was terrific.

"You have also got to understand - and it sometimes goes a little bit under the radar - at the Premier League level, what is asked of you physically.

"If we had had 11, I think he could have made the game, but because we went down to 10, there was just too much work for him and both calves tightened up.

"But what a performance, seriously, one of the best he has given for me, for sure."

Pardew later condemned the chants from both sets of fans during the game:

HANRATTY rummaged for crumbs of comfort from his side's insipid display, in the manner of passengers on the Titanic who couldn't find a lifeboat, but spotted there was no queue at the bar:  

"Newcastle were strong, They played to their strengths and their two forwards were causing plenty of problems. They were strong.

"The sending-off allowed us an opportunity to get more poise into our game and to try and stretch them going wide, but we were anxious and we were trying to play a ball that might not have existed instead of taking more care.

"In the second half sheer pressure alone yielded the goal; it was not flamboyantly brilliant. Maybe we had time to win it but in the circumstances, with Newcastle down to 10 men, and having defended so strongly, that would have been harsh.

"We came through it and didn't get beaten and that point might stand us in good stead. It is a long season ahead. There are a lot of games to play."

"Do you know what? When we equalised, it was one of the best moments, it really was, and to be accompanied by that noise....There’s an element of relief, but every derby game I have ever been involved in either here or in Scotland, there has always been an element of relief. 

Asked if he was aware of the "Steven Taylor, we wish you were dead" chants from home fans:

"I didn’t know that. That would be poor, in very poor taste, if that’s the case. I would be disappointed to have heard that. 

His reaction to the Taylor pre-match comments: 

"It didn’t figure in my team talk, but some of the players had passed comment about it. He’s absolutely entitled to his opinion. I am delighted he made their bench.”
 

      
At least it removed the near-certainty that he'd be booked in this match though, having relapsed this season after previously seeming to clean up his act. This was his fifth card in seven outings.

As bright as their shirts before the red card and looking a different proposition to the side who easily succumbed to Manchester United two weeks earlier, Newcastle had looked poised to take advantage of a lifeless display from the mackems before that point. 

The dismissal was the first of three pivotal moments, but the Ivorians' indiscretion and the numerical inferiority prompted the other two, with both Shola Ameobi and Fabricio Coloccini both substituted. 

The former was a tactical ploy but robbed us of an attacker who was worrying the home side by his mere presence; while the latter was inevitable when fatigue prevented him from maintaining an almost supernatural defensive display right to the final whistle.

Had any one of that trio of events not happened - and the ball not flukely bounced off Demba Ba and past Tim Krul - then three points would surely have been collected on behalf of Tyneside.  

Despite those consequences though, for the bulk of the remaining 65 minutes a second consecutive single goal success here looked eminently achievable; with frustration felt that we'd missed out on the chance to seriously damage our local rivals in an 11 v 11 contest with our bench options. 

A hint of weakness in the centre of the park when Ba dropped back into midfield was enough to see James Perch appear and he threw himself into challenge after challenge as the mackems showed no signs of exploiting their extra man - Adam Johnson feeble and fellow wide man James McClean more interested in a Stars in Their Eyes-type homage to the suspended Cattermole than playing football. 

Vurnon Anita was named on the bench, but his only involvement was to join Shane Ferguson on a post-match jog round the pitch, as the qualities of Perch were preferred to the Dutchman - echoing the Reading away game, when Bigirimana and Tavernier were given the nod. 

While it's pertinent to recall Coloccini's faltering first year here though and take on board the differing style of domestic football and the time it can take to adjust, a decent showing in the forthcoming Europa League ties from Champions League veteran Anita would be reassuring. 

There were some good chances here for lone striker Ba, whose bicycle kick went narrowly over the bar just before the break and then just couldn't get enough power on his second half shot when through on goal. The reshuffle also placed further pressure on Ben Arfa and he showed that there is an industrious side to his artistry. However his impact grew more limited as the game wore on and he'd looked like a boxer clinging to the ropes for some time before making way for Gabriel Obertan. 

As had been the case in added time here two seasons ago though, the the misfiring mackems plundered a point thanks to an unintentional deflection in our six yard box; their latest equaliser almost a re-run of Asamoah Gyan's goal at the same end in another 1-1 draw.  

There were still over four minutes plus four minutes of added on time, but United were able to clear their lines from several corners and force one of their own, Ba unable to convert his half-chance. 

The final whistle brought muted celebrations from red and whiters aware of their momentary good fortune but unable to celebrate a home win against their hated rivals for the fifteenth time in sixteen wearside derbies. That commemorative mug factory surely still can't survive on "2-1" sales....

And looking beyond the local "bragging rights", that's just one home win in eight games for O'Neill - a run that was sufficient to see his pasty-munching predecessor driven out of town, after failing to deliver on his election promise of winning a derby. 

Up in the North Stand meanwhile, disappointment was displaced by relief and pride at maintaining our run here. The manager advanced across the pitch to share his obvious joy, while his assistant handily reminding the banjo twangers beneath us that we'd avoided defeat with just ten men.

It's possible to look upon this result and performance as a microcosm of our season so far, with a better result and performance coming when Pardew was able to field a first-choice XI. And despite failing to register a first away win of the season, the manager will be looking to accentuate the positive, Tiote now unexpectedly available for the home and away tests against Brugge.

Looking at our upcoming league programme, it's on home soil where there look to be points for the asking and the chance to build up some much-needed momentum and consistency. While avoiding defeat today was the first objective, the manner in which a point was gained bodes well for the coming weeks - injuries and suspensions permitting.... 
 
Biffa

Respectfully dedicated to the memory of Steven Preece. RIP Nobby, sorry it wasn't a win.