Keegan Relieved After Classy Owen Shows Level Best

For much of his time on Tyneside Michael Owen has appeared to be more of a hindrance than a help to Newcastle's cause but last night the England international provided a timely reminder of his innate ability to turn matches. Watched by the England manager, Fabio Capello, Owen struck his seventh goal of a troubled season to secure Newcastle the point that should help to restore a modicum of stability to St James' Park.

Owen's strike was not enough to bring Kevin Keegan his first victory since returning to Newcastle 61 days ago but after four successive defeats the manager should be grateful for small mercies. Outplayed and outfought in the first half, when James McFadden's goal promised to deliver a much-needed Birmingham victory, Newcastle recovered to salvage a result.

The draw was about as much as either side deserved, Birmingham's dominance early on having been followed by a Newcastle revival. Owen's goal provided reward for that resurgence and there might even have been a winner but for Maik Taylor's fine save to thwart Obafemi Martins. "The second-half performance was more like it," said Keegan. "There was a lot of people showing the determination and character that you need away from home. We dominated the second half."

The reverse had been true in the opening 45 minutes, when Keegan's bold decision to play with a three-man attack, which featured Martins and Mark Viduka either side of Owen, looked like backfiring as Birmingham enjoyed their numerical advantage across the midfield. Newcastle were clueless as to how to turn the tide but there was much more vigor to the visitors after the interval, with Owen's equalizer shaking Birmingham's belief.

It was a typical goal for the doyen of the tap-in although there was also much for Alex McLeish to lament in the build-up. Birmingham had several chances to clear before Martins drilled a low shot from 10 yards which Taylor could only parry. Owen, having been denied moments earlier when the Birmingham goalkeeper saved at his feet, reacted far quicker than Radhi Jaidi and Liam Ridgewell to poke a low shot into the corner of the net.

"Michael was superb tonight," said Keegan, who also saluted Viduka's contribution. "The one thing you know with Michael is that if you create chances he will stick them in. I think some people in this country might be losing a bit of faith but just look at his record. He's such a strong character and he will keep scoring goals as long as he plays. He's a world-class player and you can't ignore that."

McFadden is not held in quite the same regard but there was plenty to admire about the Scotland international's enterprising performance here. His meandering runs troubled Newcastle throughout and it was no surprise that the forward edged Birmingham ahead. David Murphy's floated cross carried little threat but, when Abdoulaye Faye lost concentration, McFadden pounced to seize his fourth goal since joining the club from Everton in January.

"I said to the players at half-time, if you lose this game to a goal like that, and without showing a bit more creativity, I have picked the wrong side here," added Keegan, who played down Martins' tantrum after he was substituted. Vindication for Newcastle's manager arrived after the interval, with McLeish justifiably claiming that Sebastian Larsson's enforced withdrawal at half-time with a knee injury had contributed to Birmingham "losing their impetus".

Before then the home team had torn into Newcastle, creating three excellent opportunities in the opening 16 minutes. Mikael Forssell prodded a low shot wide, the indefatigable Fabrice Muamba snatched at a presentable chance and Jaidi, towering above the Newcastle defence, also headed wide of the target. "It was the proverbial game of two halves," said McLeish. "The first half belonged to us but we couldn't get the second goal to give us that little bit of breathing space."