FT:Newcastle 1-1 Middlesbro: A much better second half and a quite dramatic end to the game as Boro almost stole all the points but the result is probably fair.
90
Oh so close for Boro! Downing bends a free-kick against the post and Aliadiere smashes the rebound into the net but it has been disallowed, presumably for offside.
89
Huth's central defensive partner David Wheater almost wins the game for Boro with an acrobatic effort that Given is thankful to grab in front of his chest.
87
Goal
GOAL:Newcastle 1-1 Middlesbro: (87mins) Robert Huth rises at the back post to direct a looping header into the far corner of the net and equalise for the visitors.
85
Downing slips a lovely pass into Lee on the egde of the box and his shot on the turn is deflected wide by Taylor as ever.
83
The visitors are doing pretty well in the main but they have not been able to get Aliadiere free in quite a while now.
80
Substitution
Boro have made another change as Adam Johnson comes on to add width for them in place of the quiet Rochemback.
79
Good patient build up from Boro and Downing hits a speculative effort from range that Wheater controla and hits on the turn. GIven palms it out and a great tackle from Cacapa prevents Lee tapping it home.
77
Owen could and probably should have made it two as Barton cuts it back to him but the England man slices across the ball and it fades wide.
76
Newcastle are actually looking pretty comfortable at the back now and the crowd are certainly helping them by getting behind the home side.
72
Substitution
Southgate is making a change as he brings on Dong-Gook Lee in place of Lee Cattermole so Aliadiere has a partner now.
71
Boro definitely have a goal in them today and it looks like we could be in for a very interesting last 20 minutes.
68
O'Neil almost grabs the equaliser as he turns Cacapa inside out only to see his shot slide just past the far post.
67
Substitution
Immediately the second change comes as Mark Viduka returns in place of the all-action Alan Smith.
66
Substitution
A change from Newcastle as James Milner adds width to right hand side as he replaces Emre, moving Barton into the centre.
65
The confidence has come back to the home side now and Owen looks full of it as he twists and turns on the edge of the box, his shot is blocked and it falls for Barton who sees his shot go straight at Schwarzer.
62
Yellow Card
Things are alive and kicking at St. James' and Smith goes through late on Cattermole and picks up his ninth yellow of the season.
61
Yellow Card
Gary O'Neil is booked for dissent after Luke Young appears to get the ball in a tackle with N'Zogbia but the referee awarded a free kick.
60
Goal
GOAL:Newcastle 1-0 Middlesbro: (60mins) Finally Newcastle have a goal under Keegan! Emre curls a free-kick into the near post and Owen pounces to head brilliantly into the net.
57
Downing now on the break and he feeds a clever ball into Aliadiere who sees his shot well blocked by Given - the flag has gone up although incorrectly so it wouldn't have mattered.
56
Boro are enjoying themselves at the moment and Huth has the chance to hit a free-kick from the edge of the box but he blazes it well over the bar.
54
However, here come Boro and Downing cuts in onto his right foot and lets fly, Given parries out but O'Neil is there and with Aliadiere back post he goes for goal and Given claims. Poor decision making there from the former Pompey man.
53
Yellow Card
Duff uses quick feet to evade Rochemback who then brings him down and he is booked.
51
Aliadiere makes a very clever run and Rochemback finds him in the left channel, his first touch is good but he hesitates about the shot and Cacapa is back to tackle well.
50
This is much better from both sides and the passing is more accurate and there is not so much hoofing forward so far as there was before the break.
47
Lovely move from Boro as Young gets Aliadiere in behind and he cuts it back for O'Neil whose shot is blocked bravely by Taylor - from the corner Wheater rises and heads a fraction wide.
Second half
Both sides are unchanged as the second half begins and both will be hoping to couple the quality of football with the energy shown in the first half.
Half time
HT:Newcastle 0-0 Middlesbro: Newcastle have had more of the ball and Owen has had a goal incorrectly disallowed but Boro have arguably had the best chance through Aliadiere.
45
The referee is having a word in the ear of Wheater who has already been booked and it looks like a final warning for the defender.
45
Despite all their possession I can't remember a chance Newcastle have created from open play in the entire half.
42
Yellow Card
Jeremie Aliadiere is now in the book as he brings down Emre with a tackle born out of frustration at a lack of possession.
41
Something very strange is happening when Newcastle chip free-kicks into the box as all the Magpies men run blindly towards goal while the Boro players attack the ball unchallenged. Can that be intentional? If it is then it isn't working.
38
If Boro look comfortable then Newcastle look anything but as Pogatetz advances down the left and Taylor almost diverts his low cross beyond Given, but the keeper is well positioned.
36
The play is all in the Boro half but they look comfortable at the back so far and Newcastle need to be more inventive.
33
There is plenty of effort from both teams at the moment but there is a real lack of creative attacking quality on show.
30
Terrible defending from Newcastle as they are caught in possession three times in quick succession and eventually Aliadiere hits a tame shot at Given from a tight angle.
28
Both sides are spending most of their time lumping it up to Smith and Aliadiere and as a result neither side is really playing good football and getting a real foothold at the moment.
26
Shay Given played superbly in the thrashing Newcastle took at Old Trafford recently and he is doing the basics well again today as he is sharply off his line to beat Aliadiere to the ball.
24
Alan Smith is doing superbly in the air today against the two giants in the Boro backline but every header he wins rolls through to Schwarzer as no-one else is running through.
21
Duff bends in another corner and Cacapa attacks it but somehow heads it backwards and a great chance goes begging.
20
Newcastle have the ball in the net again and again it is Owen but it is again disallowed, this time correctly as the ball curled out and back in.
18
They are alive now as Huth risks a red card with a tackle on Owen that could have been seen as two-footed although it would have been harsh as he didn't touch the striker and got plenty of the ball, and indeed it is not even a free-kick.
17
There is suddenly an eerie silence inside St. James' that to be honest will only hinder the home side further.
15
Aliadiere has a pretty thankless job today as he will find himself a little isolated for long periods with O'Neil and Downing being midfielders at heart.
12
A long punt from Pogatetz causes all sorts of problems in the Newcastle defence as Cacapa and Given almost colide giving Aliadiere a tap-in but the Brazilian defender does well in the end.
11
Boro haven't really got going at all so far and Newcastle are lively and Alan Smith in particular is relishing the physical battle with Huth and Wheater.
8
Yellow Card
Here is the first booking and it is for the impressive David Wheater who goes through Alan Smith from behind.
7
Newcastle have started very brightly and are passing it around nicely.
4
From the corner Schwarzer drops a clanger and the ball falls to Owen who bundles it home but the referee has rather scandalously given a free-kick to the visitors. The only foul there was the keeper trying to pull Owen back. A big let off for Boro.
4
And the former Man City man should have made himself very popular for once but he wastes a glorious chance at the near post.
2
Forgot to mention that Joey Barton is starting today on the right of the midfield, his reception should be an interesting one as he powes this club a lot already. Newcastle have had most of the ball.
1
Kickoff
The big derby is underway at St. James' to a huge roar from 50,000 plus expectant fans hoping for a game full of attacking endeavour. Mike Dean is hte match official.
Middlesbrough's new record signing Afonso Alves isn't in the sixteen for Gareth Southgate's side as he relies on the pace and energy of Jeremie Aliadiere to force a break through today.
Awaiting Kickoff
Kevin Keegan is still in search of his first goal - let alone win - in his second spell as Toon boss but Michael Owen is in the starting eleven again and it is surely only a matter of time before he starts finding the net again.
Awaiting Kickoff
Welcome to a loud St. James' Park as Newcastle entertain Middlesbrough in the Tyne-Tees derby in the North East.
Newcastle United
Middlesbrough
Full time
FT:Newcastle 1-1 Middlesbro: A much better second half and a quite dramatic end to the game as Boro almost stole all the points but the result is probably fair.
Oh so close for Boro! Downing bends a free-kick against the post and Aliadiere smashes the rebound into the net but it has been disallowed, presumably for offside.
Huth's central defensive partner David Wheater almost wins the game for Boro with an acrobatic effort that Given is thankful to grab in front of his chest.
Goal
GOAL:Newcastle 1-1 Middlesbro: (87mins) Robert Huth rises at the back post to direct a looping header into the far corner of the net and equalise for the visitors.
Downing slips a lovely pass into Lee on the egde of the box and his shot on the turn is deflected wide by Taylor as ever.
The visitors are doing pretty well in the main but they have not been able to get Aliadiere free in quite a while now.
Substitution
Boro have made another change as Adam Johnson comes on to add width for them in place of the quiet Rochemback.
Good patient build up from Boro and Downing hits a speculative effort from range that Wheater controla and hits on the turn. GIven palms it out and a great tackle from Cacapa prevents Lee tapping it home.
Owen could and probably should have made it two as Barton cuts it back to him but the England man slices across the ball and it fades wide.
Newcastle are actually looking pretty comfortable at the back now and the crowd are certainly helping them by getting behind the home side.
Substitution
Southgate is making a change as he brings on Dong-Gook Lee in place of Lee Cattermole so Aliadiere has a partner now.
Boro definitely have a goal in them today and it looks like we could be in for a very interesting last 20 minutes.
O'Neil almost grabs the equaliser as he turns Cacapa inside out only to see his shot slide just past the far post.
Substitution
Immediately the second change comes as Mark Viduka returns in place of the all-action Alan Smith.
Substitution
A change from Newcastle as James Milner adds width to right hand side as he replaces Emre, moving Barton into the centre.
The confidence has come back to the home side now and Owen looks full of it as he twists and turns on the edge of the box, his shot is blocked and it falls for Barton who sees his shot go straight at Schwarzer.
Yellow Card
Things are alive and kicking at St. James' and Smith goes through late on Cattermole and picks up his ninth yellow of the season.
Yellow Card
Gary O'Neil is booked for dissent after Luke Young appears to get the ball in a tackle with N'Zogbia but the referee awarded a free kick.
Goal
GOAL:Newcastle 1-0 Middlesbro: (60mins) Finally Newcastle have a goal under Keegan! Emre curls a free-kick into the near post and Owen pounces to head brilliantly into the net.
Downing now on the break and he feeds a clever ball into Aliadiere who sees his shot well blocked by Given - the flag has gone up although incorrectly so it wouldn't have mattered.
Boro are enjoying themselves at the moment and Huth has the chance to hit a free-kick from the edge of the box but he blazes it well over the bar.
However, here come Boro and Downing cuts in onto his right foot and lets fly, Given parries out but O'Neil is there and with Aliadiere back post he goes for goal and Given claims. Poor decision making there from the former Pompey man.
Yellow Card
Duff uses quick feet to evade Rochemback who then brings him down and he is booked.
Aliadiere makes a very clever run and Rochemback finds him in the left channel, his first touch is good but he hesitates about the shot and Cacapa is back to tackle well.
This is much better from both sides and the passing is more accurate and there is not so much hoofing forward so far as there was before the break.
Lovely move from Boro as Young gets Aliadiere in behind and he cuts it back for O'Neil whose shot is blocked bravely by Taylor - from the corner Wheater rises and heads a fraction wide.
Second half
Both sides are unchanged as the second half begins and both will be hoping to couple the quality of football with the energy shown in the first half.
Half time
HT:Newcastle 0-0 Middlesbro: Newcastle have had more of the ball and Owen has had a goal incorrectly disallowed but Boro have arguably had the best chance through Aliadiere.
The referee is having a word in the ear of Wheater who has already been booked and it looks like a final warning for the defender.
Despite all their possession I can't remember a chance Newcastle have created from open play in the entire half.
Yellow Card
Jeremie Aliadiere is now in the book as he brings down Emre with a tackle born out of frustration at a lack of possession.
Something very strange is happening when Newcastle chip free-kicks into the box as all the Magpies men run blindly towards goal while the Boro players attack the ball unchallenged. Can that be intentional? If it is then it isn't working.
If Boro look comfortable then Newcastle look anything but as Pogatetz advances down the left and Taylor almost diverts his low cross beyond Given, but the keeper is well positioned.
The play is all in the Boro half but they look comfortable at the back so far and Newcastle need to be more inventive.
There is plenty of effort from both teams at the moment but there is a real lack of creative attacking quality on show.
Terrible defending from Newcastle as they are caught in possession three times in quick succession and eventually Aliadiere hits a tame shot at Given from a tight angle.
Both sides are spending most of their time lumping it up to Smith and Aliadiere and as a result neither side is really playing good football and getting a real foothold at the moment.
Shay Given played superbly in the thrashing Newcastle took at Old Trafford recently and he is doing the basics well again today as he is sharply off his line to beat Aliadiere to the ball.
Alan Smith is doing superbly in the air today against the two giants in the Boro backline but every header he wins rolls through to Schwarzer as no-one else is running through.
Duff bends in another corner and Cacapa attacks it but somehow heads it backwards and a great chance goes begging.
Newcastle have the ball in the net again and again it is Owen but it is again disallowed, this time correctly as the ball curled out and back in.
They are alive now as Huth risks a red card with a tackle on Owen that could have been seen as two-footed although it would have been harsh as he didn't touch the striker and got plenty of the ball, and indeed it is not even a free-kick.
There is suddenly an eerie silence inside St. James' that to be honest will only hinder the home side further.
Aliadiere has a pretty thankless job today as he will find himself a little isolated for long periods with O'Neil and Downing being midfielders at heart.
A long punt from Pogatetz causes all sorts of problems in the Newcastle defence as Cacapa and Given almost colide giving Aliadiere a tap-in but the Brazilian defender does well in the end.
Boro haven't really got going at all so far and Newcastle are lively and Alan Smith in particular is relishing the physical battle with Huth and Wheater.
Yellow Card
Here is the first booking and it is for the impressive David Wheater who goes through Alan Smith from behind.
Newcastle have started very brightly and are passing it around nicely.
From the corner Schwarzer drops a clanger and the ball falls to Owen who bundles it home but the referee has rather scandalously given a free-kick to the visitors. The only foul there was the keeper trying to pull Owen back. A big let off for Boro.
And the former Man City man should have made himself very popular for once but he wastes a glorious chance at the near post.
Forgot to mention that Joey Barton is starting today on the right of the midfield, his reception should be an interesting one as he powes this club a lot already. Newcastle have had most of the ball.
Kickoff
The big derby is underway at St. James' to a huge roar from 50,000 plus expectant fans hoping for a game full of attacking endeavour. Mike Dean is hte match official.
Awaiting Kickoff
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Rochemback, Cattermole, Arca, Downing, Aliadiere
Awaiting Kickoff
Newcastle: Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia, Duff, Barton, Butt, Emre, Owen, Smith
Awaiting Kickoff
Middlesbrough's new record signing Afonso Alves isn't in the sixteen for Gareth Southgate's side as he relies on the pace and energy of Jeremie Aliadiere to force a break through today.
Awaiting Kickoff
Kevin Keegan is still in search of his first goal - let alone win - in his second spell as Toon boss but Michael Owen is in the starting eleven again and it is surely only a matter of time before he starts finding the net again.
Awaiting Kickoff
Welcome to a loud St. James' Park as Newcastle entertain Middlesbrough in the Tyne-Tees derby in the North East.