Newcastle United 2 Stoke City 2

IF Joe Kinnear’s wife is struggling for Christmas gift ideas, then she could do worse than buy her hubby a half-season ticket for St James’ Park.

Sent off in the dying minutes on Saturday, the Newcastle manager is fast becoming a regular in the stands, and with the recession hitting attendances throughout football, even the Gallowgate faithful need all the vocal support they can muster.

Kinnear’s furious reaction to a free-kick awarded in the build-up to Abdoulaye Faye’s injury-time equaliser saw the Magpies’ boss dismissed by referee Mike Riley.

Already facing a Football Association charge of improper conduct for branding Martin Atkinson “a Mickey Mouse referee”, Kinnear again delegated post-match press duties to Chris Hughton, thereby avoiding deeper strife.

“Emotions run high and I think we all have to accept that at times. These are things that are very much in the heat of the game,” confirmed the unflappable Hughton.

The Newcastle assistant manager is a likeable guy and by all accounts a very competent coach. But the announcement that he, rather than Kinnear would be addressing the media was met with a collective sigh by the North-East press pack.

Hughton answers questions with the guarded suspicion of a mafia don facing a senate hearing.

Even Jeremy Paxman at his most tenacious would struggle to breach the former Spurs full-back’s defence.

One player who had no such problems with a back four was Michael Owen – and he must have been seething at the end of Saturday’s game.

Despite another injury-interrupted season, the Newcastle No 9 has scored eight goals in nine Premier League starts.

To sell him in January would be a disastrous move by Mike Ashley. Although after seeing his good work undone, Owen may agitate for a move to a side who can defend a lead.

His early brace was vintage Michael Owen.

Hovering just outside the area, he ran on to a sublime through ball from Jonas Gutierrez and put his side one-nil up after only nine minutes.

When he rammed home Oba Martins’ left wing cross to double his tally, Newcastle looked to be heading for their first win for a month.

Stoke were awful in the first half, when even Rory Delap’s trademark long throw-ins lacked their usual zip.

The home side attacked at will with Gutierrez and Charles N’Zogbia carving through the Potters’ defence.

A Danny Higginbotham block prevented the Argentine winger from notching his first Newcastle goal.

But on the hour, the introduction of Ricardo Fuller for the tiring Delap – those throws must take it out of him – turned the game decisively Stoke’s way.

With his first meaningful touch, Fuller simply ran at Fabricio Coloccini, and with the Argentina international transfixed by this rare incursion into his territory, Mamandy Sidibe was given the chance to put Stoke back in the game.

Free-flowing Newcastle were now a bag of nerves.

Steven Taylor, who earlier in the half had executed a world-class goal-saving tackle on Richard Cresswell, epitomised the Newcastle back four – wholehearted but sorely lacking a calm head.

And with Danny Guthrie forced off through injury in the first half, the home midfield was fatally exposed.

Adding another enforcer in the centre of the park must be considered another priority for Kinnear. When the burntout Geremi was replaced by Claudio Cacapa with ten minutes left, it was the cue for Tony Pulis to urge his players forward.

As an attacking force, Newcastle were spent.

On 90 minutes former Magpie Abdoulaye Faye had a golden chance to grab a point when he fired wide from sixyards.

Faye, who rarely impressed as a Newcastle player, confirmed he is happier with life in Staffordshire.

“I like Stoke better, I’m happier, it’s closer, more like a family.

“The atmosphere, the team, everybody’s closer, we go out together as team,” he said.

And the Senegal international celebrated with gusto when, five into minutes of added time, he slotted home Glenn Whelan’s free-kick to repeat Titus Bramble’s recent feat of an old boy silencing the home crowd with a late equaliser.

Depending on the referee’s report, and the FA hearing, the subdued Tyneside supporters may soon be joined by a vociferous Dubliner.