ALAN SHEARER, so often the scourge of Leeds, salvaged a first-day point for Newcastle with a finish that bore further testimony to his legendary predatory prowess.

The Magpies' skipper opened the scoring at Elland Road in the 19th minute with a penalty converted with customary conviction, and doubled his tally to rescue Sir Bobby Robson's side two minutes from time.

Robson and Leeds counterpart Peter Reid were locked in a warm embrace on the final whistle.

But the mood was in stark contrast to what had gone before as their charges engaged in a testy tussle that was true to the traditions of this feisty fixture.

Predictably, Lee Bowyer was given a rough ride by the home fans and his former teammates on his Premiership bow for Newcastle.

The controversial midfielder, once a hero but now a hate figure in these parts for engineering his exit last season, was the target of one or two robust challenges and was out of luck in front of goal.

Bowyer fluffed a glorious chance to silence the jeers when he tamely lifted his shot over from Shearer's knockdown in the 70th minute.

Admittedly, Bowyer had a hand in the build-up to the spot-kick award. Gary Speed withstood a biting Jason Wilcox challenge to deliver a crossfield ball to Bowyer, who played it down the line to Craig Bellamy.

The Welshman then slipped it into the path of Kieron Dyer, who was felled by Lucas Radebe.

Cue Shearer to send goalkeeper Paul Robinson the wrong way.

But Leeds' response came within five minutes. Elland Road old boy Speed was caught in possession by Jody Morris, who fed fellow debutant Lamine Sakho.

The on-loan Sakho then found Mark Viduka, whose low show beat Shay Given at the near post.

Newcastle pressed the self-destruct button again in the 57th minute to hand the initiative to Leeds.

Olivier Bernard's horrendous back-header dropped to Alan Smith and the England striker, linked with a move to Newcastle, nipped in to slide the ball through Given's legs.

Smith's enthusiastic celebration in front of his own fans was proof, if any were needed, that he is still committed to his home-town club, despite his criticism of Leeds' decision to sell off star names like £9m Jonathan Woodgate to ease their enormous debts.

But Shearer, who has now netted 19 Premiership goals against Leeds - 11 of them for Newcastle - marked the 600th appearance of his club career with a last-ditch saver.

Substitute Nolberto Solano crossed from the right and the ball broke off Radebe for 33-year-old Shearer to force home from close range.

Minutes earlier, Radebe had redeemed himself for the penalty concession with a desperate goalline clearance to deny sub Jermaine Jenas after Shearer had nodded down Aaron Hughes' cross.

Woodgate, on his first return here since his January move, was afforded a dignified welcome by the home faithful.

But this always had the makings of an occasion which Bowyer would have to endure rather than enjoy.

He was roundly booed when he stepped off the team bus on arrival and, needless to say, it didn't end there.

Initially at least, Bowyer demonstrated a brazen disregard for his detractors.

But, when his number went up in the 73rd minute, he had the look of a man who had been bludgeoned into submission.

Bowyer had taken the place of Solano, whose insistence on playing for Peru this week has ruled him out of Robson's immediate plans.

In defence, the Newcastle boss opted for Hughes at right-back instead of Andy Griffin.

This was a day for reunions, with midfielder Speed also back on his old stamping ground.

But former Sunderland boss Reid resisted the temptation to hand ex-Newcastle left-back Didier Domi, signed on a season-long loan from Paris St. Germain, a starting role and likewise kept one-time Magpie David Batty in reserve until the second half.

Bowyer betrayed a few early nerves when he turned into trouble on the edge of his own area to gift possession to Sakho - on temporary terms from Marseille - but the assured Andy O'Brien ultimately dealt with the danger.

Laurent Robert brought the first save of the game from Robinson with a low, angled 25-yard drive.

At the other end, Given should have been tested by Smith, who fired over from close range after Viduka's deft lay-off from Sakho's left-wing centre.

When Newcastle forced a corner on the left on the quarter hour, Robert's delivery swung out to Bowyer whose 20-yard effort flew well over, prompting hoots of derision from the home hordes.

Newcastle had an anxious moment as the impressive Sakho's header found Smith, who controlled the ball and turned in one movement to hook high but only narrowly wide of Given's left-hand upright.

Two minutes later, Newcastle were in front after Speed had refused to yield to Wilcox unwelcome attentions.

The Leeds midfielder, operating in an unfamiliar right-sided role, was booked soon after the goal for a wild challenge on Robert.

But Speed was the guilty party when the home side drew level with Viduka's cool finish and the Aussie striker, who has seemingly patched up his differences with Reid after their summer spat, had the scent of a second before Given moved smartly off his line to hack the ball clear.

Bellamy's pace then carried him into a shooting position, but Robinson blocked the striker's attempt at his near post.

Robinson was happy to parry Robert's drive after former Middlesbrough target Seth Johnson had picked up a deserved yellow card for unceremoniously bundling over Bowyer.

Woodgate was similarly punished in the 42nd minute for checking the progress of the speedy Sakho just outside the Newcastle penalty area.

As the first half drew to a close, a speculative shot from Bowyer failed to unduly worry Robinson.

The ill-tempered nature of the game intensified after the interval. Smith was the luckiest man alive to escape a booking following the crudest of tackles from behind on Bernard.

And the belligerent Bellamy twice clashed with Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo, who in between was also at odds with Bowyer.

Morris wasn't as forunate as Smith when referee Alan Wiley intervened after Hughes had been left in a heap.

Domi, introduced as a replacement for Sakho on the hour, was the fourth Leeds player cautioned after he scythed down Bowyer, who was withdrawn two minutes later with a hamstring twinge.

And Bellamy's loose tongue cost him once more when he was the sixth player booked in the final minute.

Result: Leeds United 2 Newcastle United 2.

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