Manager Joe Kinnear, yesterday appointed Newcastle manager until the end of the season, saw his side put in another superb defensive performance at the Riverside Stadium, having stopped Chelsea scoring at Stamford Bridge a week earlier.

The result saw United - who were backed by more than 4,000 fans on Teesside - climb above Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland in the Premier League.

The game also saw former Middlesbrough forward Mark Viduka make his long-awaited comeback as a second-half substitute after more than six months on the sidelines.

Kinnear had made one enforced change from the side which held Chelsea, with Charles N'Zogbia coming in for the injured Damien Duff on the left side of midfield.

Viduka - out since May with an Achilles problem - was named among the substitutes, along with fit-again Steven Taylor.

Gareth Southgate, meanwhile, brought former Sunderland man Julio Arca back into his team after a spell on the sidelines.

Arca caught his Argentinian countryman Jonas Gutierrez in an early challenge, but the winger was quickly on his feet and able to continue.

Stewart Downing tried his luck with a shot from distance in the 17th minute, but the effort flew well over Shay Given's goal.

The home side enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, and Downing, careering towards the far post, almost got on the end of a Tuncay Sanli cross from the right in the 19th minute.

A couple of minutes later there was no one to get on the end of a centre from N'Zogbia at the other end, but the winger, on his first start since October 5, was looking Newcastle's most dangerous player going forward.

A well-wrapped-up Viduka - whose goals helped keep Middlesbrough in the top flight two seasons ago - was soon warming up for United.

Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins were struggling to make an impression up front, though Martins did have a penalty appeal waved away by Alan Wiley when he took a tumble after a riding a challenge from David Wheather as the half-hour mark approached.

Viduka's ability to hold the ball up will have been on Kinnear's mind as the half wore on, as his team were losing possession too easily in Middlesbrough's half.

However, Martins conjured up one chance 10 minutes before the break. Danny Guthrie burst into the box, and his cross took a deflection on its way to Martins, who took it on his chest, spun, and cracked a shot on to the crossbar.

As the half-time break approached it looked like United were getting more of a foothold in the game, though they had a let-off in the 40th minute when striker Afonso Alves headed a Downing cross well over the bar with the visiting goal seemingly at his mercy.

In the 42nd minute midfielder Nicky Butt floated a free kick from 20 yards on to the roof of Ross Turnbull's net after Wheater had brought down Guthrie.

Neither manager made a change at the break, and Guthrie had the first chance of the second half when he drilled a shot from outside the box just wide of the left-hand post.

Newcastle started the half more confidently than they had the first, and they almost got the break they were looking for when N'Zogbia burst into the box from the left flank, but his ball across the face of goal was cut out, to the frustration of the United fans behind Turnbull's goal.

The half also saw mist descend on the Riverside Stadium, prompting a cheeky chorus of 'We can't see you for the smog' from the visiting fans.

Alves and Martins had shots deflected wide either side of the hour mark, and that turned out to be Martins's last act.

Viduka replaced him in the 65th minute, to boos from the home fans, and cheers from the away end.

Martins, clearly frustrated with his withdrawal, strode straight down the tunnel without shaking Kinnear's hand.

Alves wasted another chance in the 67th minute, shooting over with his right foot after making a good run to the edge of the Newcastle box.

Viduka had a goalbound shot blocked by Wheater in the 71st minute, and a couple of minutes later United's large following began pogoing to keep warm as the temperature on Teesside plunged further.

Given pulled off a superb reaction save from Justin Hoyte at the other end in the 75th minute after Aliadiere had crossed from the right.

Southgate then sent Mido on for Aliadiere, and the Egyptian striker ran straight to the United box to attack a Middlesbrough free kick, which Given beat away.

Viduka had an injury-time chance to claim all three points, but his effort was gathered by Turnbull.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Turnbull; Hoyte, Wheather, Pogatetz, Taylor; Aliadiere (Mido, 78), Digard, Arca, Downing; Alves, Sanli. Subs not used: Jones, Emnes, Johnson, Hines, Grounds, Walker.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Given; Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Enrique; Gutierrez, Butt, Guthrie, N'Zogbia; Martins (Viduka, 65), Owen. Subs not used: Harper, Cacapa, Edgar, Taylor, Geremi, Carroll.

Goals: None

Bookings: Arca 68, Beye 81

Sent off: None

Attendance: 32,160

Referee: Alan Wiley