The 27-year-old Newcastle striker claimed his second goal in a week to drag the Magpies back into Saturday's clash with arch-rivals Sunderland after Djibril Cisse had fired the home side in front.

However, he then passed up a glorious opportunity to extend the Wearsiders' 28-year wait for a home win over their old foe, and could only look on as Kieran Richardson blasted home a 75th-minute winner at the other end.

The defeat left Newcastle rooted inside the Barclays Premier League's bottom three, making Tuesday evening's visit of promoted West Brom to St James' Park a must-win affair.

Ameobi said: "We have to pick ourselves up, there's no question. We gave a performance on Saturday where we felt we could have won it, but it wasn't to be.

"But we have to look forward now and forget about that, which is sometimes hard to do.

"We have to get over it, look forward to the next game and try to get maximum points, especially playing at home.

"Hopefully, we can give another good performance and grab a win."

Ameobi, who went into the game with a double against Sunderland already to his name, might have claimed another as his side threatened to take all three points.

His 30th-minute header from Geremi's free-kick capped another good comeback after Cisse had fired the home side in front, and the opportunity to give the Magpies the lead arrived 13 minutes after the restart.

Obafemi Martins' pacy run allowed Ameobi to find space on the edge of the penalty area, and when he cut inside defender Danny Collins, he seemed certain to score.

However, he spooned his left-foot shot over the bar and Sunderland breathed a huge sigh of relief.

That relief turned to joy with 15 minutes remaining when Richardson smashed home a superb free-kick to condemn Newcastle to their first Wear-Tyne derby defeat on Wearside for 28 years, and their first anywhere since November 2000.

Interim boss Joe Kinnear has paid special attention to Ameobi since his arrival on Tyneside and is confident he can help him fulfil his potential.

But the Nigerian-born and Newcastle-raised frontman left the Stadium of Light with his latest goal proving scant consolation.

He said: "It doesn't really count for anything. We are all so disappointed, especially myself. It's the first time I have been beaten by Sunderland, and that was something I was obviously wanting to avoid.

"It's always nice to score a goal, but in the circumstances, it doesn't really help."

Having taken a point apiece from their previous two games, Kinnear and his players arrived on Wearside confident that they could head home with something to show for their efforts.

The fact that they did not highlighted the plight in which they find themselves.

They remain one place from bottom of the Barclays Premier League table with just six points from the first 27 on offer, and knowing that only victory over West Brom will ease a growing fear of a long fight for top-flight survival.

They at least have Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton, who was targeted by missile-throwing home supporters as he warmed up on the sidelines, back in harness, while Michael Owen's recovery from a groin injury is continuing.

However, the continued presence of stand-in skipper Nicky Butt will depend on how he has recovered from an ankle problem which required a pain-killing injection during the first half of Saturday's game.

Kinnear faces the prospect of having to pick his players up once again as he looks for his first win at the fourth attempt.

He said: "I am disappointed, obviously, because of the immense disappointment for the supporters and everyone else.

"But looking at the bigger picture, we were beaten, and we have to play West Brom on Tuesday night and get maximum points.

"That's what I said to the players in the dressing room because it's hurting them."