Charles N'Zogbia had put Newcastle ahead before Mido scored his second goal in as many games since his move from Tottenham.

Mark Viduka scored his first goal for the Magpies - and his 150th in British football - when he held off Jonathan Woodgate before teeing up the ball and hitting a volley past Mark Schwarzer to restore the lead for the Magpies.

However, Boro were level three minutes later when Julio Arca hit a volley from the edge of the area.

Mido told Setanta 1: "I think we could have won the game but to come back twice from losing the game shows a lot of character and how this team is growing. We have a future here.

"When you lose your first two games it makes it a little bit doubtful for people.

"But we never had doubt, we know we have good people in the team."

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce described the draw as feeling like a defeat after twice squandering the lead minutes after scoring.

He told Setanta 1: "We feel like we've lost. We feel that having got the lead twice that should have been enough the second time around to win the game. It would have been a very precious three points.

"But unfortunately it was not to be and we switched off.

"Even after that I really thought we were going to win it.

"In realistic terms disappointment goes on further because of the two injuries - Stephen Carr has a hamstring (injury) and Peter Ramage looks (more) serious. I'll have to be busy next week to cover that.

"We are undefeated but a draw we are a little bit disappointed with but we'll look forward to Wigan next week."

Viduka opened his Magpies account with a goal against his former club but kept his celebrations low-key.

Allardyce added: "He knew a lot of people here and said if he scored the winner he wouldn't celebrate too much but he's done his job here today. He's as disappointed as the rest that it wasn't the winner."

The former Bolton boss also believed Mido's goal was offside, saying: "It's such a tight decision, sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't.

"It's not an easy one for the assistant. I can understand why he didn't the flag up."

Boro manager Gareth Southgate refused to condemn Newcastle's Steven Taylor after seeing his striker Jeremie Aliadiere carried off unconscious following an apparent collision with the centre-back.

"He is awake again," Southgate said of the Frenchman on Setanta 1.

"He has taken a hefty whack but the only way my players wanted to come off the field today was on a stretcher

"You have to accept that at times there are challenges that are near the mark.

"But it's a man's game and you have to get on with it."

Southgate was also delighted with his team's performance, and in particular with the fighting spirit shown to twice come from a goal down.

"We played really well," he added.

"We played some good football at times and looked a threat when we went forward.

"We have shown great character."