WHEN Nicky Butt walked over to the touchline midway through the first half last night, the pills he took were for stomach cramps - the medication, however, could easily have been for other ills.

Since Newcastle slipped to a devastating defeat by Liverpool eleven days earlier, their pain has been deepened by the negativity surrounding St James' Park.

Whether it has been the deafening insults aimed towards manager Sam Allardyce during the reversal at the hands of the Reds, subsequent reports of player revolts or the honest cry for help from the passionate Joey Barton, a state of depression had descended on Tyneside.

Last night, though, was different. There may have been a nervousness at times about some of Newcastle's play, but there was a spirit in the stands that was reproduced on the field.

This dogged display should ensure Allardyce remains in his post for the run up to Christmas.

Despite much speculation about the former Bolton boss' position, owner Mike Ashley suggested in the build up to the meeting with the Premier League leaders that a managerial change was not on the agenda within the next 24 hours.

That is exactly how it should have been, regardless of the point secured last night.

Allardyce could have become the first Newcastle manager to suffer three straight home defeats in the Premier League but, even then, what would the club have gained by sacking him now?

With Arsenal and Liverpool out of the way, Newcastle now have a run of fixtures up to Boxing Day in which Allardyce must deliver.

Fifteen league games into his tenure, the 53-year-old deserves to be given time to prove he can succeed at one of the country's top clubs.

He has been given the financial backing to extend the size of the coaching staff at St James' Park and the go-ahead to make expensive changes to the way the players are coached and treated.

So with fixtures with Birmingham (home), Fulham (away), Derby (home) and Wigan (away) on the horizon, before the year ends with a tough game at Chelsea on December 29, there would have been little benefit in replacing him this morning.

Last night's performance against Arsenal was a further indication that Ashley, chairman Chris Mort and the club's success-starved fans should stay with him, for now.

When Barton demanded patience from a 'vicious' support last week, it was taken in some parts to have been a direct attack on the thousands who pay to watch the Magpies on a regular basis.

Even the Geordie messiah Kevin Keegan, the player's former manager at Manchester City, has had his say.

"The one thing you should never do is criticise the fans. You should never bite the hand that feeds you," said Keegan, who reigned at St James' between 1992 and 1997.

Keegan may well be right, but there are many Newcastle supporters who feel an element of sympathy for Barton.