Late leveller halts Magpies, but coach Carver fumes

They are hated by opposing fans with as much passion as they are loved by their own.

Bellamy, out for four months after undergoing knee surgery, was merely warming up on his return on Saturday.

In his quarter hour cameo appearance he moaned at the officials, his teammates, but most of all the opposition.

Normal service resumed there then.

Robbie Savage, however, managed to do the same thing for the full 90 minutes plus, and continued after the final whistle.

When Newcastle coach John Carver foolishly attempted to argue with referee Rob Styles over the award of an injury time free-kick which led to Stern John's equaliser, Savage just couldn't resist stepping in.

That merely added to Carver's annoyance and, fortunately, he was led away before any real damage could be done.

The matter may not be over, however. Mr Styles report on the game should arrive at Soho Square this afternoon, and Carver's name is sure to be mentioned.

The fact that Savage appeared fortunate to get away with around a half a dozen fouls before eventually finding his way into Styles' notebook for 'persistent foul play' annoyed both Carver and his boss, Sir Bobby Robson.

His thigh high lunge on Olivier Bernard after half an hour warranted a booking, or so Robson thought, and the Newcastle camp believed he was lucky to stay on the pitch.

He said: "I thought Savage was lucky in the first-half - extremely lucky. It was a dreadful foul (on Bernard), almost a red card.

"Then the referee gives a yellow card against Olivier Bernard for a mere push.

"Savage finally got a yellow card for ten persistent fouls - had the referee done his job then he wouldn't have been on the pitch in the first place."

The fact that Bernard was yellow carded for his first offence highlighted a lack of consistency in Styles performance.

The performances of the players matched that of the referee. It was not a great advert for the Premiership by any stretch of the imagination.

The conditions didn't help with a swirling gale and persistent rain engulfing the West Midlands.

The home side possessed a greater desire early on and the impressive Mikael Forssell was their most creative player.

An early break for the Blues appeared to sum up their play.

The Finland international caught Bernard in possession on 11 minutes before squaring a great ball to Bryan Hughes.

Hughes broke into the box but fired horribly over. Birmingham always looked dangerous, but repeatedly failed to finish off good approach play.

Newcastle weren't much better and it took a strike of quality to lighten the gloom surrounding the stadium, and on the pitch.

After Alan Shearer had headed a Laurent Robert free-kick wide of the post, it was Newcastle's other 30 something who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

A poor clearance by goalkeeper Maik Taylor was picked up by Darren Ambrose.

He sped down the right, cut inside, and then laid it back to Gary Speed 30 yards out. The Welshman wasted no time in cracking a great effort in off Taylor's post.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce must have tore into his players at half-time because they reappeared with fire in their bellies.

Within a minute Clinton Morrison and Stan Lazaridis combined down the left, setting up Bryan Hughes who could only clip an effort off the crossbar.

Three minutes later they should have been level. Jonathan Woodgate's underhit back pass forced Shay Given out to deny Morrison.

With the Newcastle keeper stranded Damien Johnson had the goal at his mercy but lifted his effort over the bar.

The error was one of many from the normally immaculate Woodgate. He struggled to impose himself on the Birmingham attack, with centre-back colleague Andy O'Brien left to do most of the defensive clearing up.

It was a fact that did not go unnoticed.

"Jonathan Woodgate had a poor match," said Robson. "He was uncertain in his play. He let Mikael Forssell get in behind him a couple of times in the first half.

"Forssell's a good player but Jonathan should be able to handle him. Jonathan should be able to handle anybody but he couldn't handle Forssell.

"It was just one of those days. He wasn't quite focused and Forssell was giving him a bit of a time.

"His distribution was poor and, as somebody said, his clearances were poor.

"Andy O'Brien had a good game and looked after Jonathan and it's usually the other way."

Forssell, Oliver Tebily and Savage all threatened Given's goal, but Newcastle were still menacing on the break.

With Bimingham throwing caution to the wind as time was running out Kieron Dyer broke into the box on the right.

His first cross was blocked, and his second was just behind Jermaine Jenas, who couldn't get the ball from out of his feet and the chance went begging.

With injury time approaching the two substitutes, Craig Bellamy and Hugo Viana almost combined down the left but again Newcastle couldn't find the finish.

They were made to pay for the misses. Bellamy was then penalised for a dubious foul on Kenny Cunningham on halfway.

Viana kicked the ball away, was booked, and the free-kick was moved ten yards forward.

Cunningham floated the ball to the back post and the unmarked John fired home.

Bellamy continued to voice his annoyance at the decision at the final whistle. Carver joined him and Savage attempted to intervene.

It was arguably the most exciting thing to happen all afternoon.

Result: Birmingham City 1 Newcastle United 1.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.