Alan Shearer's Newcastle finally mustered signs of life at Stoke thanks to homegrown hero Andy Carroll.

Just when it appeared as if their supporters would be left waiting for their miracle to materialise from Tyneside hero Shearer, so the manager's fellow Geordie Carroll popped up to answer their prayers.

However, Newcastle should have been dead and buried by the time the Gateshead-born 20-year-old headed an 81st-minute equaliser, cancelling out a first-half opener from Newcastle old boy Abdoulaye Faye.

The fact they were not owed much to Stoke's failure to take the gilt-edged chances that came their way, and occasional right-time, right-place defending when it mattered most.

But make no mistake, this first point of Shearer's reign from his two games in charge does not mask the deficiencies that are still rife within a team that remain in the bottom three.

That was evident by the way Stoke scored their goal from Faye, who silenced St James' Park in early December when he scored a last-gasp equaliser that saw Stoke hit back from 2-0 down to snatch a 2-2 draw.

How inevitable that it was Faye on hand again to rub salt into wounds that deepen as each week passes, and as Newcastle seemingly slip further towards the relegation trapdoor.

You could almost imagine Shearer, in his former guise as a Match of the Day pundit, highlighting the inefficient marking that allowed Faye the easiest of headers.

But then he would also have pointed an accusing finger at referee Chris Foy for awarding Stoke the corner that led to the opener when replays showed the ball had clearly bounced off Ricardo Fuller.

When you are fighting for your life, those are the kind of breaks that go against you, and this one was punished.

Liam Lawrence, who had already tested the Newcastle defence with a number of piercing deliveries, made his fourth corner of the game count.

But as the Magpies markers went missing it made it a formality for Faye to plant a comfortable seven-yard header beyond stricken goalkeeper Steve Harper.

As early as the sixth minute Harper had been relieved to see a glancing header from Ryan Shawcross to another Lawrence inswinger flash across his goal and narrowly beyond the left-hand post.

Eight minutes later, though, Harper was almost left red-faced as he was beaten to the punch by a brave Fuller who had risen to meet a curling cross from Rory Delap after a woeful Damien Duff clearance.

Fuller was unlucky as his header shaved the crossbar of an empty net, with Harper in no-man's land and again breathing a sigh of relief.

But when the goal arrived it was deserved for Stoke who ended the half firmly in the ascendancy, but with penalty appeals for handball waved away against Shola Ameobi and Kevin Nolan.

There was also blood and bandages for striker James Beattie after he was caught on top of his head in a collision with Sebastien Bassong.

How Stoke did not then put the game out of Newcastle's reach early in the second period remains a mystery as they had the chances, but a little bit of luck was at least on the visitors' side.

Bassong and Ryan Taylor both found themselves on hand in clearing efforts from Glenn Whelan and Faye off the line.

Newcastle managed to survive the storm, but Shearer - sharp-suited as he often stood with his hands in his pockets inside his technical area - was still watching an impotent display.

That was until he brought on substitute Carroll in the 71st minute.

The young striker's impact was almost immediate as within moments he had headed narrowly wide a deep cross from Ryan Taylor, at that stage Newcastle's best chance of the game.

Then, within 10 minutes of his arrival, Carroll's instinct saw him rise to a deflected chip from Duff and loop a delightful header inside the right-hand post of Thomas Sorensen.

The draw means Stoke are one point nearer the 40 points mark which should see them safe, a target Newcastle find themselves 10 points adrift of, with just six matches remaining to save their Premier League skins.

Teams

Stoke Sorensen, Wilkinson (Kelly 90), Shawcross,Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Delap, Whelan,Etherington (Pugh 80), Fuller, Beattie (Cresswell 73).

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Olofinjana, Tonge, Sonko.

Booked: Etherington, Wilkinson, Fuller, Lawrence.

Goals: Abdoulaye Faye 33.

Newcastle Harper, Edgar, Bassong, Beye, Ryan Taylor,Guthrie (Gutierrez 63), Nolan, Butt, Duff, Owen,Ameobi (Carroll 70).

Subs Not Used: Krul, Coloccini, Smith, Geremi, Ranger.

Booked: Bassong, Ryan Taylor.

Goals: Carroll 81.

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).