A late Demba Ba own goal gave Sunderland a deserved point against 10-man Newcastle in a tense encounter at the Stadium of Light.
The visitors had the perfect start after just three minutes when, after Ba forced black cats keeper Simon Mingolet into a save to set the ball up, Yohan Cabaye produced a clinical finish from close range.
The toon were then reduced to 10 men when Tiote was debatably sent off for foul play on Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher, similar to the 1-1 draw on Tyneside in March but in role reversal.
Despite their numerical advantage, the home side's response was at best average and didn't really threaten the visitor's goal - the most threatening being a Craig Gardner free kick not long before the interval.
Even with one less man on the pitch, the magpies looked far too comfortable in protecting their early lead and could have scored more themselves when Ba tried an acrobatic volley from a few yards out.
Sunderland finally started to build some momentum in the second half and began to dominate terroitory and possession, but still not seriously troubling Tim Krul thanks to some poor finishing in the final third.
Even so, Alan Pardew's men deserve great credit for holding out their lead for so long as they limited the pressure piled on them by getting bodies in the way at every opportunity, including an oustanding and inspiring performance from defender Fabricio Coloccini.
Martin O'Neill brought on Louis Saha for the poor Stephane Sessegnon, who had the best chances, including a shot which hit the side netting as the game progressed to the final ten minutes, with the home team still pressing for a leveller.
But after the home side were held out for so long, there was a sense of inevitability about the equaliser. An 86th minute Sebastian Larsson free kick crossed its way into the penalty box, with defender John O'Shea heading the ball towards Krul, but Ba's deflection decieved the keeper and rolled into the net for 1-1.
The goal came as a big relief for what had been a frustrating 86 mintues for the home crowd, who grew anxious and tense, which was capped off when Steven Taylor was brought on for the injured Coloccini not long before the leveller.
The black cats still pressed for a winner afterwards but the visitors battling defensive work rate easily merited a point and with the home side's intense pressure in the second half the game deservedly ended honours even.
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