Steven Taylor hit a second-half equaliser to earn Newcastle United a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at St James' Park.
The Magpies players were clapped off at the final whistle after an impressive performance against the Barclays Premier League leaders.
Newcastle knew they needed to start well but they fell behind after just four minutes when Emmanuel Adebayor took Emmanuel Eboue's cross on his chest before brilliantly volleying past Shay Given.
The hosts almost drew level within 60 seconds when Geremi headed just wide from James Milner's cross but the visitors survived the scare and could have doubled their lead in the 17th minute when Given had to rush out of his goal to smother at the feet of the clean-through Adebayor.
one-handed save
Milner and Geremi sent shots wide as Newcastle pressed for an equaliser and it took a sharp one-handed save from Manuel Almunia to turn Taylor's header onto the post following Charles N'Zogbia's corner in the 35th minute.
The hosts continued to push forward at the start of the second half and Almunia had his palms stung by a rasping N'Zogbia effort the goalkeeper was lucky to see come straight at him.
Geremi was also denied by a fine Gilberto block in the 53rd minute, although Adebayor again went through at the other end as the Gunners broke on the counter-attack.
Joey Barton got back to recover possession for Newcastle, though, and they finally drew themselves level on the hour when the impressive Alan Smith helped on Habib Beye's cross and Obafemi Martins dummied to allow Taylor to fire home off the post from inside the area.
quick succession
There looked to be only one winner from there as Allardyce's men poured forward but it was not until the last five minutes they created a clear opening.
Smith sent one header over in the 65th minute but the Magpies' best chance did not come until a minute before the final whistle.
Nicky Butt headed down one of many corners his side won in quick succession and Taylor looked set to prod home the midfielder's knock-down before Eboue arrived in the nick of the time to knock the ball out for another corner.
Arsenal then comfortably saw out stoppage time to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points. It was the home supporters who were the happiest at the final whistle, though, after their side produced their best performance for a number of weeks.
