Newcastle came from a goal down to grab a point at Hull in a game that was high on tension but low on quality.

With the two sides firmly in the relegation mix, the desire not to lose appeared to outweigh the desire to win.

The two moments of real quality in the match produced goals, Geovanni heading Hull ahead before Steven Taylor drew the visitors level with a neat volley.

With Hull four points ahead of Newcastle in the table, they will view this as a point gained while results elsewhere went the way of The Magpies and The Tigers.

A cagey opening was lit up on nine minutes by a superb goal from Geovanni. The Brazilian started and finished the move, picking the ball up in his own half, driving forward before releasing Craig Fagan down the left flank.

Geovanni continued his run and was rewarded as Fagan’s cross was perfect and allowed him to climb above Sebastien Bassong and head beyond an exposed Steve Harper.

Newcastle’s response was nonexistent. It appeared that the Magpies midfield forget that it was Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen leading the line, as their plan in the first half revolved around playing hopeful high balls - which the Hull defence were not hard pressed to deal with.

Hull went within a whisker of doubling their advantage, as Geovanni’s free kick flashed a foot wide of target with Harper well beaten.

Thirty-nine minutes in and a rare moment of quality brought about an unexpected leveller. Nicky Butt delivered a measured ball into the box, between the Hull back four and keeper Matt Duke, and Taylor was on hand to cushion a volley into the far corner.

The goal was firmly against the run of play, as Hull had carried the greater threat in the opening 45 minutes, Fagan twice volleying over from admittedly difficult positions prior to the equaliser.

Manucho proved a super sub for Hull at Fulham and he almost repeated the trick, seconds after climbing off the bench.

Hull broke at pace through Bernard Mendy who delivered a ball into the box for Manucho. The Angolan showed strength and skill to spin away from Fabricio Coloccini before shooting straight at Harper.

Jonas Gutierrez excites and frustrates in equal measures and he had Newcastle fans tearing their hair out on the hour. Newcastle broke at pace, Martins picked out the Argentine in acres of space on the edge of the box and he did the correct thing by measuring his effort, but promptly fired yards over the bar.

The game opened up in the final 30 minutes and Martins was the next to waste a chance, prodding his effort wide of target after burrowing into the box.

Hull maintained an attacking threat and Mendy squandered a great chance with 25 minutes remaining, as he failed to pick out an unmarked Manucho who would have had a tap-in had the Frenchman taken more care with his pass.

Chances were at a premium in the final ten minutes as the two sides were forced to settle for a point apiece.