SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night hit out at the "sad'' treatment dealt to Lee Bowyer by the Leeds United boo boys.

Midfielder Bowyer was forced to run a gauntlet of hate at Elland Road as Newcastle grabbed a point in a 2-2 draw with a late equaliser from two-goal skipper Alan Shearer.

Bowyer's game was cut short in the 73rd minute by a hamstring injury on a day he will want to forget.

In contrast, defender Jonathan Woodgate was warmly received on his first return to his former club.

Magpies manager Robson, who along with opposite number Peter Reid had called for calm on the eve of the match, admitted: "It was a tough game for Lee - we knew he'd get that sort of treatment.

"It's sad in a way, but I hope it will settle down and he can enjoy his football.

"I think the fans here have forgotten the service he gave this club, but he'll ride it and get over it.

"He didn't know which way it would go with the fans. He thought he might at least get a bit of support.

"But he got what I thought he would get.

"To be fair, he's not in the best physical condition; he's had a problem with his hamstring and I thought we would only get 60 minutes out of him.

"He was feeling it, so we took him off. Woodgate got a great reception - sometimes you can't work out the public, can you?''

Robson reckoned the match provided a rousing opening to his side's Premiership campaign.

He said: "Overall, I thought it was a fine match for the public and the TV viewers.

"Leeds, with something of a re-modelled side, gave us a very good game.

"The disappointing thing was that we made two drastic mistakes on the ball to give them their goals.

"Alan Smith put the ball through Shay Given's legs for their second, but it was a wretched header from Olivier Bernard.

"And Gary Speed lost possession when Mark Viduka got their first goal.''

Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer, who last night linked up with the England squad along with Woodgate ahead of Wednesday's game against Croatia at Ipswich, said: "A point is better than nothing.

"But the way I look at it, we're already two points behind Manchester United and Arsenal.''

Leeds boss Reid, who confirmed that he hopes to push through a loan deal this week for Arsenal striker Jermaine Pennant, insisted the home fans weren't too hard on Bowyer.

"I thought the crowd, in general, were terrific,'' said the former Sunderland boss. "I don't think they gave the old boys too much stick.

"There was nothing really vindictive - I got more stick than anyone from the Newcastle fans!

"It was a pulsating match and my team gave me everything they could.

"I'm just a bit disappointed that we let one in so late in the game.

"Newcastle had a lot of pressure and, in the end, a lack of concentration has undone us.

"But Newcastle are an excellent side and we've done really well against them.''

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