Middlesbrough 0 - 0 Newcastle United

Alves, Martins go close

Updated: November 29, 2008, 12:22 PM ET

Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins nearly snatched a derby victory at Middlesbrough as Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear celebrated the news he will be staying until the end of the season with a precious away point.

• Southgate happy with derby day point

The Nigeria international hit the bar 10 minutes before the break as the Magpies threatened to claim their first Premier League away win of the season at the Riverside Stadium.

However, keeper Shay Given had to make a fine 75th-minute save from full-back Justin Hoyte as the Teessiders piled on the pressure after record signing Afonso Alves had passed up a series of chances.

Kinnear would have been the happier manager with opposite number Gareth Southgate having to make do with a point a week after seeing his side humbled 3-1 on their own patch by Bolton.

The former Wimbledon boss and his players arrived at the Riverside buoyed by last weekend's 0-0 draw at Chelsea, and the 61-year-old's appointment until the end of the season, which was announced yesterday.

However, as they ran out on a wintry Teesside afternoon, they knew they needed to head back up the A19 with something to show for their efforts after slipping back into the relegation zone despite their heroics at Stamford Bridge.

In a first half of few clear-cut chances - neither Ross Turnbull nor Given had a single save of any note to make - it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes before the break.

The industrious Danny Guthrie carved his way into the Boro penalty area and saw his shot blocked by Emanuel Pogatetz.

However, Martins was quickest to react and he span and thumped a left-foot shot against the crossbar with Turnbull beaten.

That was as close as either side came to breaking the deadlock inside the opening 45 minutes, and although Nicky Butt went close with a curling 42nd-minute free-kick, the Teessiders too had their half-chances.

Stewart Downing, playing his 100th game at the Riverside, fired a right-foot shot over from distance with 17 minutes gone and Julio Arca curled another effort too high 14 minutes later.

Didier Digard might have given his side the perfect start to the second half had he connected with an ambitious volley within seconds of the restart, but he completely missed his kick.

However, Guthrie went much closer at the other end two minutes later when, after his side had broken from deep, he drilled a right-foot effort just wide.

Pogatetz had to hack away a 52nd-minute Charles N'Zogbia cross inside the six-yard box after the Frenchman had carved his way inside from the left with the game opening up nicely.

Alves saw a 55th-minute shot deflected wide after Digard had done well to find him on the edge of the box, although he was slow to react to Jose Enrique's error three minutes later, and Sebastien Bassong had to come to his rescue with Jeremie Aliadiere looming.

Boro were starting to mount a concerted threat and N'Zogbia had to clear a 61st-minute Aliadiere header of the line from Downing's corner after Habib Beye had blocked another Alves shot.

But there was drama too at the other end and Martins saw a long-range effort clip a defender and drop just wide.

Mark Viduka's arrival as a 65th-minute replacement for the Nigerian did not go down well with the locals.

The Australian almost made an impact within six minutes when he shot for goal from Owen's knock-down, but Pogatetz made a match-saving block to deny his former team-mate.

But Given had to come to the rescue at the other end with 15 minutes to go when he got down smartly at his near post to keep out Hoyte's shot after the full-back had played a neat one-two with Aliadiere.

Southgate happy with derby day point

Boro have now won just one of their last six Premier League games at the Riverside Stadium, but boss Gareth Southgate was in a positive mood after the final whistle.

He said: ''It was very much a point gained, a hard-earned point, but one we certainly deserved.

''We had the majority of the game, certainly in the second half - it was pretty much one-way traffic for long periods of the second half.

''We allowed them a few breaks and they had a chance near the end which we shouldn't have allowed them to have, but I am very pleased with how we played.

''Sometimes you draw a game and you are disappointed with the performance, but I thought bar the finishing touch, we had pretty much everything today.

''We defended solidly, passed the ball well, created not clear-cut chances, but we looked a threat all the time.

''I am pleased with how we played.''

Newcastle came closest to winning the game when striker Obafemi Martins hit the bar with a 35th-minute shot on the turn, and substitute Mark Viduka, on his return from a long lay-off with an Achilles injury, might have damaged his reputation further with his former club's fans had he converted an injury-time volley.

However, but for a fine 75th minute save by Shay Given to deny, of all people, full-back Justin Hoyte, the Teessiders might have emerged victorious.

Both the Irishman and opposite number Ross Turnbull had only one save of note to make, but Boro will feel the more disappointed not to have taken advantage of the chances they created.

Record signing Afonso Alves was the main culprit, passing up a series of opportunities, including a 40th minute free header, as the visitors collected a second successive clean sheet.

Southgate admitted his heart was in his mouth when former team-mate Viduka, who was booed roundly by the home fans among a crowd of 32,160, went for goal at the end.

He said: ''You know what he is capable of. I am not too impressed with him - he has not played all year and then he comes and plays against us. I thought he was supposed to be our mate.

''He is a quality player and he has to accept he is going to get the sort of reception he got.

''We loved working with him here, he was terrific for us. I am sure he will poke his head in and we will have a drink before he goes.''

But if Southgate was pleased enough with a point, the Magpies headed for home the happier after successive 0-0 draws away from St James' Park.

Manager Joe Kinnear, who was yesterday handed the reins until the end of the season, left the post-match press conference to number two Chris Hughton.

Hughton said: ''On the back of last week, what we wanted to do was keep a clean sheet.

''We felt we had enough in the team to score us a goal here, and as the game opened up in the second half, I genuinely feel, although it could have gone either way, we got into the better areas and if our final ball had been a little bit better, we could have gone on and taken the three points.

''That would be the only disappointing factor, but to come here and get a draw is a good result.''

Hughton admitted Martins had been unhappy to be replaced by Viduka with 25 minutes remaining after he had headed straight down the tunnel.

But he added: ''You want nobody to be happy to be taken off, but any issues that way are always dealt with in-house, and that's always the correct way to approach it, always.''