Carroll claims point at Boro, but Colo injured
ANDY Carroll was the derby hero for Newcastle United against Middlesbrough this afternoon.
The striker salvaged a point for a below-par United with his 12th goal of the season seven minutes from time at the Riverside Stadium.
Peter Lovenkrands had opened the scoring, only for Barry Robson and Scott McDonald to put Gordon Strachan's men in front.
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However, Carroll ensured Newcastle didn't return up the A19 empty-handed, the game ending 2-2.
Worryling, however, Fabricio Coloccini limped off injured early in the second half with a dead leg, and the defender is a doubt for next week's games against Scunthorpe United and Bristol City.
Coloccini's problem came on the back of a hand injury suffered by defensive colleague Mike Williamson on the eve of the game, with Hughton admitting after the game the centre-half now faces a month on the sidelines.
Boro had an early penalty shout waved away by referee Lee Mason, with McDonald, back for the home side after a two-game absence, taking a tumble in the box under pressure from Coloccini.
Strachan's side made all the early running amid tremendous noise from United's 3,600 fans.
And the breakthrough came in front of them, with LOVENKRANDS converting what was Newcastle's first real chance of the game in the 16th minute for his first away goal in more than a year.
Jonas Gutierrez cut inside and split the home defence with a neat reverse pass, which Lovenkrands, who had timed his run perfectly calmly despatched past goalkeeper Danny Coyne for his 13th goal of a remarkable personal campaign.
Danny Simpson was booked as the half-hour mark approached for bringing down Rhys Williams, and Steve Harper had to be at his best to stop the resulting free kick from Robson.
ROBSON, however, wouldn't be denied, and it was the former Celtic man who levelled the scores in the 36th minute.
The midfielder exchanged passes with McDonald to the right of the visiting box before lashing a left-footed shot which this time had Harper beaten.
There was more bad news after the break, with defensive stalwart Coloccini limping off five minutes into the second-half to be replaced by Ryan Taylor. Tamas Kadar was switched to the centre of defence, and Simpson to left-back.
Gutierrez floated a cross-cum-shot narrowly over Coyne's goal as things got heated between the two sets of fans, with a line of police having to be deployed next to the away contingent.
Harper stopped who looked a certain goal for former Sunderland man Julio Arca in the 61st minute.
And if anybody was going to score, it was looking more likely to be Boro, with McDonald especially lively around the United box, though Strachan's men looked nervy at the back when Hughton's side did managed to attack.
Lovenkrands was withdrawn with 20 minutes left, and the introduction of Nicky Butt suggested Hughton was willing to settle for a point.
Butt's first act was to concede a free kick. Robson took the set piece, and MCDONALD was able to hook the flick on past Harper to make it 2-1 to the home side.
Hughton's response was to throw on Leon Best, but it was his out of sorts strike partner CARROLL who levelled the scores in the 82nd minute to lift the roof on the away end.
And Newcastle's jubilant fans sung We'll Meet Again in the dying minutes as frustrated home supporters started to file out of the stadium, their team still adrift of the play-off places.
United, meanwhile, saw their lead over second-placed West Bromwich Albion cut to four points, though Nottingham Forest, beaten at Preston North End, are a further five points behind the leaders.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Coyne; Naughton, Wheater, McManus, Taylor; Robson, Williams, O'Neil, Arca; McDonald, Killen (Miller, 87). Subs not used: Jones, Hoyte, Riggott, Lita, Bennett, Franks.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Harper; Simpson, Hall, Coloccini (R Taylor, 50), Kadar; Pancrate (Best, 77), Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez; Carroll, Lovenkrands (Butt, 70). Subs not used: Krul, Enrique, Routledge, Ranger.
Goals: Lovenkrands 16, Robson 36, McDonald 74
Bookings: Hall 23, Simpson 25, Kadar 69, Carroll 83
Sent off: None
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Attendance: 27,347 (3,743 Newcastle)
For reaction to this afternoon's game, see Monday's Gazette
Follow Gazette Newcastle United writer Miles Starforth on Twitter here
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
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