Substitute Marian Pahars ended Southampton's goal drought to snatch a share of the points at Newcastle.

The Latvian striker came off the bench to level 10 minutes from time to grab his side's first goal in six matches under caretaker boss Stuart Gray.

Kevin Gallacher had put the misfiring Magpies in front with a well executed 26th-minute lob, but the home side were far from convincing, and indeed, could have ended up with nothing to show for their efforts on a night when the visitors passed up a series of glorious opportunities.

Southampton were always in the game and after the break, dominated for long periods with the Tynesiders surrendering possession all too easily and never really getting a grip in midfield as the lack of depth in Bobby Robson's squad was cruelly exposed.

The visitors - now without a win in six games - showed the greater determination and the greater quality, and but for a fine first-half save from Shay Given, could even have taken all three points, much to the annoyance of the black and white faithful who booed their team off the pitch at the end.

Robson made just one change to the side which kept a first clean sheet in 30 games against Leicester City on Saturday, and that was enforced.

Injured Scottish midfielder Stephen Glass was replaced by former Colchester striker Lomana Lua Lua, making his first start at St James' Park and only his third in total, although he was handed a midfield role in the absence through suspension of Nolberto Solano.

Southampton made two changes to the side which lost 1-0 to Sunderland at the weekend after both Dean Richards and Dan Petrescu failed late fitness tests.

Pahars was relegated to the bench, while Chris Marsden and Kevin Davies were recalled to the starting line-up.

The omens for an open flowing game were not good as the two teams set about their evening's work and there was little to shout about in the early stages.

Lua Lua started brightly enough as he attempted to give defender Wayne Bridge the run-around, and he got in the first serious attempt on goal with seven minutes gone, although his curling effort did not trouble Saints' keeper Paul Jones.

Skipper Warren Barton also forced a save from Jones as United tried to build up a head of steam, but it was the visitors who went closest to breaking the deadlock on 23 minutes when Marsden dived to send in a goal-bound header from Kevin Davies' cross which Given brilliantly clawed out of his top corner.

The Irishman was in action again two minutes later to collect Hassan Kachloul's well-struck effort, but it was from his clearance that the home side went in front.

Carl Cort got up well to flick on the bouncing ball and catch the Saints' defence square to allow Gallacher to lift a shot over the advancing Jones.

The goal gave Newcastle just the impetus they needed and they immediately set about the task of killing the game off, forcing a series of corners and putting the visitors under extreme pressure.

However, they lacked a cutting edge and Lua Lua was guilty of a bad miss from close range after Nicos Dabizas and Cort had caused havoc in the penalty area.

They were almost made to pay six minutes from the break when Cort headed Bridge's free-kick straight to Kachloul, but he sliced his shot well wide.

Robson re-arranged his midfield quartet at half-time to bring Christian Bassedas into the middle and post Gary Speed on the left.

But they were arguably even more lightweight and squandered possession with embarrassing ease as Southampton stepped up a gear.

Indeed, it was United who were left to counter-attack as the visitors surged forward, Dabizas getting away with a potential fatal hesitation inside his own penalty area after Kachloul, Beattie and Davies had combined to good effect and Matthew Oakley shooting wide from the edge of the box.

Andy O'Brien had to get in a good block to deny Davies on 65 minutes, but the home defence were grateful for Kachloul's wastefulness four minutes later after he beat the offside trap but scuffed his shot wide of Given's right post.

With substitute Pahars thrown into the fray, the visitors piled forward, and the Latvian tested Given on 77 minutes after cutting inside Quinn.

But Newcastle failed to heed the warnings and the equaliser duly arrived 10 minutes from time after Davies crossed from the right for the unmarked Pahars, who scored both goals in a 2-0 win over United at the Dell in September, to head past Given.

The home side almost regained the lead within two minutes as Gallacher and Cort caused problems in the Southampton box and the former Wimbledon man fired in a shot which was somehow blocked by Oakley on the line.

Teams

Newcastle: Given, Barton, O'Brien, Dabizas, Quinn, Lua-Lua, Speed, Acuna, Bassedas (Hughes 86), Cort, Gallacher (Ameobi 86).

Subs Not Used: Harper, Cordone, Stephen Caldwell.

Booked: Lua-Lua, Speed.

Goals: Gallacher 26.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, El Khalej (Benali 53), Oakley, Marsden, Tessem (Pahars 71), Kachloul, Davies, Beattie (Rosler 79), Bridge.

Subs Not Used: Moss, Le Tissier.

Booked: Davies.

Goals: Pahars 81.

Att: 50,439

Ref: S Lodge (Barnsley).