Late Viduka strike denies Derby

Mark Viduka saved Newcastle as he fired home a double to deny relegation-haunted Derby a second victory of the season over Sam Allardyce's side and clinch a 2-2 draw.

The Australian, who had cancelled out Giles Barnes' sixth-minute opener with his fourth goal of the season on 27 minutes, struck again at the death just as it looked as though Kenny Miller's effort early in the second half would hand the Rams a double over the Magpies.

It would have been difficult to argue that Paul Jewell's men were not worth their win had they managed to hang on after Newcastle, Viduka apart, turned in a toothless display in front of goal despite dominating possession for much of the game.

The home fans could have been forgiven for anticipating a repeat of the debacle at Pride Park in September when, with just six minutes gone, Barnes drilled home a sweetly-struck right-foot drive on a par with Miller's stunning effort that night to give his side a shock lead.

It looked like it might be one of those days for Newcastle when Barnes cleared Obafemi Martins' header off the line on 22 minutes and Stephen Bywater got in a vital block to keep out Habib Beye's driven effort two minutes later.

However, the nerves were calmed on 27 minutes when Viduka benefited from Alan Smith's determined foraging to set himself and drill a low shot inside the post to level.

The visitors were back in front on 52 minutes when Steve Howard and Gary Teale helped a long clearance into Miller's path. The striker needed no second invitation and calmly slotted past Shay Given to make it 2-1.

But Australia international Viduka did what he does best with just three minutes remaining, firing past Bywater from 15 yards to snatch a point.