Alan Shearer returned to action but missed two good scoring chances as a Newcastle player, Lomana LuaLua, came up with a dramatic Portsmouth equaliser two minutes from time to deny the Magpies victory.

Craig Bellamy's first-half strike put Newcastle ahead - his fourth goal in four starts since returning from a knee injury - but Pompey had most to celebrate, climbing back out of the bottom three while Newcastle blew a chance to strengthen their chances of finishing fourth and claiming the last Champions League place.

The Welshman's 34th-minute strike looked to have spared Shearer from embarrassment after he bungled two good chances, as Sir Bobby Robson recalled the former England striker following his UEFA Cup "rest" against Valerenga on Thursday.

Shearer, who admitted he was "disappointed and upset" by being left out in Norway, has scored just twice - including a penalty - in 13 league matches now and miskicked comically at the far post following a sliced effort by Lee Bowyer just eight minutes before Bellamy's coolly-taken strike.

And 10 minutes from time when Pompey substitute Ivica Mornar misdirected a header from a Newcastle corner across his own goal Shearer despatched a a clean effort over the crossbar from eight yards.

It got worse. Shaka Hislop brilliantly saved a Jermaine Jenas power-drive and moments later LuaLua seized on a short-corner routine featuring Mornar at the other end to grab a point.

His celebrations showed just how much it meant to him to put one over on Robson, who let him leave St James' Park on a three-month loan.

Shearer was welcomed back with a crunching first challenge from the burly Linvoy Primus, who barely gave Michael Owen a kick - at least not of the ball - for Liverpool last week.

And although Shearer climbed with familiar power and style soon afterwards to set up Bowyer's off-target volley, the former England ace missed a sitter before Bellamy put Newcastle ahead.

An embarrassing air-shot after Bowyer, also back starting action after a long lay-off with a hip problem - sliced Bellamy's pull-back across goal in the 26th minute brought the inevitable chorus of mirth from the home crowd.

The Pompey fans had been screaming again just two minutes earlier when Andy O'Brien's meaty challenge felled Alexei Smertin in the area.

After Aiyegbeni Yakubu's shot bounced away for a corner off Gary Speed a minute later Newcastle appeared to be in for a grilling.

LuaLua was tearing determinedly at them with his bag of tricks wide open and had almost skipped clean through.

He went clear onto the lively Smertin's pass when Olivier Bernard slipped but goalkeeper Shay Given did just enough to foil him as he came racing off his line to the edge of the area.

And within a minute of Shearer's blunder, Eyal Berkovic was given an opening just as easy for Portsmouth, but somehow steered Yakubu's pass wide from eight yards.

And Pompey paid when Bellamy showed them how to do it on 34 minutes, comfortably tucking his shot away after Kieron Dyer strolled through the home defence to set him up.

It was also a little against the run of play but Smertin continued to inspire Portsmouth and demanded a save from Given with a fierce shot on the turn.

With six minutes left to half-time, Newcastle lost Dyer who limped off and was replaced by Jenas.

And although Jenas almost clinched victory late on, the Magpies never looked the same force after the break when Pompey battled gamely for their reward.

Teams

Portsmouth Hislop, Pasanen, Primus, De Zeeuw, Taylor, Quashie, Faye (Mornar 71), Smertin, Berkovic (Harper 90), LuaLua, Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Wapenaar, Curtis, Hughes.

Booked: Berkovic, Faye.

Goals: LuaLua 89.

Newcastle Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Dyer (Jenas 40), Speed, Bowyer (Bridges 82), Robert (Viana 78), Shearer, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Woodgate.

Booked: Bernard, Bramble.

Goals: Bellamy 34.

Att: 20,140

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).