Sunderland 1 Newcastle Utd 1: Fear of failure is frequently a bigger motivator than lust for glory.

It certainly seems to have been the driving force behind Sam Allardyce's tactics on Wearside, where Alan Smith was deployed as the deepest of holding midfielders and, with Newcastle United's manager unwilling to risk fielding three strikers at once, a taut-faced Michael Owen found himself replaced by Obafemi Martins seven minutes from time.

"It was very, very important indeed not to lose; we couldn't afford to lose, this means we haven't allowed things to escalate," insisted Allardyce, who will be waiting to hear from the English FA after they confirmed yesterday they would examine Joey Barton's groin-high tackle on Dickson Etuhu, which went unpunished by referee Martin Atkinson.

Barton could face a three-match ban if the FA deem retrospective punishment necessary. The loss of the midfielder would be a further blow to Allardyce, whose stuttering team had been defeated in their previous two games and were fortunate to avoid a third reverse here.

That cannot have been lost on Owen, who received precious little service and will be contemplating a bleak professional horizon should England fail to qualify for Euro 2008, or Mike Ashley.

Informed he would not be welcome in Sunderland's directors' box wearing his hallmark replica shirt, Newcastle's increasingly eccentric, and populist, owner elected to mix with his public instead. Sitting with the away fans behind a goal, Ashley can hardly have failed to pick up the vibe that the Toon Army are disgruntled with a style of play that involves the ball spending inordinate amounts of time in the air.

Judging by their collective body language, Newcastle's players do not appear thrilled by Allardyce's vision either and Owen might suddenly find the prospect of a move to Manchester City rather attractive.

Allardyce's job security was called into question last week and, despite public declarations of "long-term support" from Chris Mort, the chairman, he seemed a little insecure after his side floundered in the face of a high-tempo Sunderland who played the superior football and created a litany of chances.

"After last week when we didn't have a great result (a 4-1 defeat at home to Portsmouth) we could easily have caved in here," admitted James Milner, who ensured Newcastle did not fold by scoring a somewhat flukey equaliser, his cross-shot - much more cross than shot - confounding Craig Gordon.

The manner of that concession summed up Sunderland's recent misfortune. "We're sick of hearing people say 'but you played well'," admitted the impressive Danny Higginbotham, whose header from Grant Leadbitter's cross gave Sunderland a deserved lead. "Our performance today warranted a win.

"This doesn't feel anything like a relegation team and, although things haven't gone our way in recent weeks, confidence is still high. But we've got to start turning 'unlucky' into wins."

As Allardyce acknowledged, Roy Keane's principal problem is a goal shortage. "The one thing Sunderland lack is cutting-edge finishing," reflected Newcastle's manager.

Although the excellent Kenwyne Jones has scored four goals in seven games since signing from Southampton, no other Sunderland player is remotely prolific.

Which rather prompted the question why the visiting manager was so cautious, deploying the disappointing Smith as, at times, virtually a fifth defender.

"He was showing us respect," replied Keane, half smiling.

Maybe Allardyce - particularly if he wants to keep Owen happy - could do with watching a few videos of Kevin Keegan's Newcastle before pondering a notice Keane has pinned up in Sunderland's dressingroom.

It includes the lines: "You've got to think high to rise; you've got to be sure of yourself before you can ever win a prize," and "If you dare not, you don't . . ."

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