But despite keeping it clean after his expletive-filled midweek rant at reporters, the stand-in Magpies boss could find himself in trouble with the Football Association after seeming to compromise his touchline ban.

Kinnear was seen passing instructions from a position in the tunnel, and first the fourth official and then a policeman made sure he left the area.

He had been heavily criticised for a foul-mouthed tirade aimed at the media earlier in the week, but he handled a full press conference and radio interviews without swearing once.

Kinnear said: "I was very pleased with the comeback, great character. But I'm frustrated, we had two kicked off the line and the players gave me everything.

"We played two small strikers against two well-developed centre-halves, but we passed the ball round them at times.

"We had other opportunities. The character was first class - everyone would have felt at 2-0 down that it was all over. But we stuck at it and almost won it.

"The situation at the club cannot get any lower. And everything that has been said this week hasn't helped much. But you (the media) have a job to do the same as me."

He added: "I've kept it away from the players. All I want is to manage football and the political side does not interest me. I would have dearly loved to have got all three points.

"What I could not understand with you lot is that the job I have taken is for 10 games, but I cannot see what is being gained by all the sarcasm that has been flying around.

"Surely people want the club left in a better state that I have picked it up in.

"Whoever takes over surely wants to see the club up higher with 10, 15, 20 points. Or will the critics still be happy with us still having four?

"I am not paranoid. I have had to suffer the cruellest journalism I have ever known. There is no reason for it.

"But it is behind me. I am not going to get into another argument. What you see is what you get from me."

On the subject of his appearance near the dugouts, he blamed lack of reception on his mobile phone.

He said: "I feel it is highly unlikely I will be in trouble for going down to the tunnel. I was on a mobile and could not get any reception, all I wanted to do was make substitutions and changes.

"If they want to be so fickle, so be it. I was talking on the phone and the signal went. I was not on the pitch or in the dugout.

"I passed on instructions to make the substitution and then left the area. I didn't go onto the touchline, I stayed in the tunnel.

"I was trying to get a point over. That's all. I passed the information on to someone and then turned away and went back. It's nothing as far as I am concerned."

Kinnear also confirmed that he will be holding talks with Gerry Francis over a possible part-time coaching role.

He said: "There is only me and Chris (Hughton), and we have a lot of lads to work with. We need to work in smaller numbers.

"I have known Gerry Francis all my life, he's a great coach. I know he is tied up with media work so I put an offer to him to come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"He can do some solid work and I will pay him accordingly. He has no desire to be a manager or anything full-time. He won't be involved in anything on Saturdays.

"I feel we need someone with that experience. He will not be a number two or anything like that, I will be meeting him for a meal on Monday afternoon to discuss it. There is a good chance something will happen.

"If it is not Gerry I will still be bringing someone else in, to specialise in certain things in small groups - defence, midfield, strikers."

mfl

Everton boss David Moyes believes his side gave desperate Newcastle the lift they needed.

Two up with goals from a Mikel Arteta penalty and Marouane Fellaini's first for the club, Everton allowed Steven Taylor to head one goal back just before the break and create the equaliser early in the second half for Damien Duff.

Moyes, who expects to sign his new contract next week, said: "It was disappointing to see two points dropped like that.

"For 44 minutes we were comfortable, and I was looking forward to going in at the break two up, but that late goal in the first half changed all that.

"There's never a good time to concede a goal. But that was bad. We gave Newcastle a lifeline.

"We are a bit fragile at the moment, anxiety crept in. Even during the half-time period.

"Their dressing room clearly got a lift and ours was down because we had controlled and dominated the half, so to go in just 2-1 ahead was annoying.

"We kept working hard, I know some fans were booing at the end, but they were disappointed we did not win the game."

On the issue of his contract, Moyes added: "I hope the contract will now be signed sometime next week.

"We have not had the time to do it over the last few days, it will be done next week."