England skipper Alan Shearer chose St George's Day to return to the goal trail and rescue a point for Newcastle.

Shearer collected his 27th of the season with a powerful 23rd-minute header and then added a second with a close-range finish just after half-time to drag his side back into a game which was rapidly slipping away from them.

Former Sunderland striker Michael Bridges - like Shearer, discovered by Jack Hixon - had put Leeds in front with a 13th-minute drive and Jason Wilcox added a second four minutes later as the Magpies were punished for some dreadful defending.

But Shearer, who also scored twice in the 3-2 defeat at Elland Road earlier in the season, inspired his side's fightback despite the close and often illegal attentions of Michael Duberry.

Ian Harte should have won it for the Yorkshiremen with a 60th-minute penalty, but a draw was a fair result on a day when defenders floundered and strikers prospered.

Bobby Robson's injury-hit squad was further depleted at the last minute when former Leeds star Gary Speed was forced to pull out with a stomach bug and miss only his second game of the season.

That opened up the way for a return for Portuguese defender Helder, who was handed an unfamiliar role alongside Rob Lee in the middle of the park.

Nikos Dabizas resumed in defence for the injured Alain Goma, while Paraguayan international was handed his first start in place of the unavailable Nolberto Solano.

Leeds were without the injured Jonathon Woodgate and the rested Lee Bowyer, with Duberry and Alfie Haaland drafted back into the starting line-up after Thursday night's 2-2 UEFA Cup draw with Galatasaray.

Desperate to end a run of three successive defeats, Newcastle flew out of the blocks and could have been in front with less than a minute gone.

Shearer's flick on put Dyer in the clear, and although he delayed his right-foot shot, he drove the ball beyond Leeds keeper Nigel Martyn.

However, the England midfielder saw his shot come back off the foot of the post and by the time Didier Domi's follow-up headed back towards goal, the keeper had recovered to save.

Lucas Radebe's fourth-minute tackle denied Dyer another clear run on goal after Shearer again picked him out, and the home fans were preparing themselves for a pleasant afternoon.

But inevitably, it was Bridges who spoiled the party by opening the scoring on 13 minutes.

Warren Barton lost possession upfield and Jason Wilcox raced forward down the left before delivering a cross into the middle.

Dabizas looked to have it covered, but he completely miskicked to allow the ball to reach Bridges, and he gave Shay Given little chance from the edge of the box.

Given, who had earlier produced a fine save from Helder as he tried to clear another Wilcox cross, found himself picking the ball out of the net for a second time within four minutes, and this time, he had to accept a share of the blame himself.

Dabizas was penalised for a foul on Haaland on the Leeds right, giving Wilcox the opportunity to send an inswinging cross into the box, but although Bridges rose in the attempt to head at goal, he did not seem to get a touch and the ball flew across the Irishman and landed in the bottom corner.

However, Shearer, who was becoming increasingly frustrated by referee David Elleray's reluctance to penalise marker Duberry for a series of untidy challenges, gave his side a lifeline on 23 minutes.

Domi robbed Wilcox on the left and delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post for his skipper to thunder a header past the helpless Martyn.

Danny Mills had to bundle away a Shearer cross a minute later, and Shearer thought he should have had a penalty 11 minutes before the break when he looked to be hauled to the ground by Duberry.

However, it took the best efforts of Steve Howey and Dabizas to halt a Harry Kewell break, and Given had to keep out a late Bridges shot as Leeds rallied late in the half.

There was no let-up after the break and Shearer put his side back on terms within three minutes of the restart.

Martyn failed to hold Domi's corner and when Aaron Hughes turned the ball towards goal, the striker pounced from close range to make it 2-2.

The equaliser seemed to inspire Leeds once again, but it was the Tynesiders who could have gone in front on 56 minutes after Dyer sparked a quick break.

Gavilan ran on to his pass to outstrip the Yorkshire defence, but Martyn got a hand to his low shot to keep the visitors level.

But it was Given staring down the barrel of a gun on the hour after Kewell was brought down by Dabizas just inside the penalty area.

Elleray was not having one of his better games, but few could have argued when he pointed to the spot.

However, Harte drove his effort wide of Given's right post as Newcastle breathed again.

The game opened up as it entered its final phase with Gavilan and Bridges in particular exploiting the space left by tired legs, but neither was able to forge the vital opening.

Wilcox's pace allowed him to cross for substitute Bowyer three minutes from time, but he could not climb high enough to get his header on target.

Newcastle: Given, Barton, Howey, Dabizas, Hughes, Gavilan (Antunes 86), Lee, Helder (Marcelino 65), Domi, Dyer (Maric 80), Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Harper, McClen.

Booked: Shearer.

Goals: Shearer 24, 48.

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Radebe, Duberry, Harte (Bowyer 77), Bakke, Haaland, McPhail, Wilcox, Bridges (Huckerby 80), Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Hopkin, Smith.

Booked: Haaland, Harte, Kewell, Bakke.

Goals: Bridges 12, Wilcox 17.

Att: 36,460

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).