A Demba Ba own goal saw Sunderland claim a share of the derby day spoils at the Stadium of Light.
The Newcastle United striker diverted an effort from John O’Shea past Tim Krul late in a fiercely-contested Wear-Tyne derby to cancel out Yohan Cabaye’s early opener.
The game itself however, was overshadowed by a red card shown to Newcastle’s Cheik Tiote which left The Magpies having to play over an hour with 10 men.
Referee Martin Atkinson, dismissed the Ivorian international after a late challenge on Steven Fletcher.
Pardew named fit-again Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul, but Steven Taylor, also available again after recovering from injury, had to be content with a place on the bench.
Up front, derby talisman Shola Ameobi – who has netted seven goals in fixtures between the two sides – was handed a start ahead of Papiss Cisse.
And Newcastle got off to the best possible start with Yohan Cabaye opening the scoring in the third minute with a simple finish after Simon Mignolet could only parry an effort from Ba into his path.
The goal quietened the home support, who had raucously welcomed their team on to the field and mercilessly taunted Steven Taylor, who had suggested no Sunderland player would get into Newcastle’s starting XI on the eve of the game.
Alleged chanting of “We wish you were dead” marred what was a fantastic atmosphere.
United had the better of a high-tempo opening period, with Pardew’s side the more composed on the ball and in control of the black cats, limiting them to few efforts on Krul’s goal.
Cabaye forced a save out of Mignolet with a 30-yard free-kick in the 21st minute, and the game started to swing from end-to-end.
The half’s biggest talking came when Tiote was dismissed by Atkinson for a crude challenge on Fletcher. A fraction of a second before he clattered the striker, Atkinson had blown the whistle for a foul in his favour.
Newcastle’s players protested the decision, believing the tackle had deserved no more than a yellow card.
Tiote’s dismissal left United to play 65 minutes with 10 men, and Pardew withdrew Ameobi who stormed straight down the tunnel.
Tiote will now miss the games against West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool and West Ham through suspension.
James Perch stepped into the breach with minimal fuss, performing admirably as Newcastle made it to half time with their slender lead intact.
Sunderland were frustrated by a dogged and determined United as they attempted to make their extra man count early in the second half.
Newcastle were on the back foot for large spells, but O’Neill’s side were struggling to turn their possession into clear-cut chances.
When Pardew’s side broke forward, they were outnumbered, and Ba was cut an isolated figure up front on his own, with his team-mates forced to defend deeply, and in numbers.
Pardew sent on Taylor in place of Coloccini – who looked to be suffering from cramp – in the 80th minute.
When the equaliser came, it was cruel on United, with Ba accidentally putting a John O’Shea header from a Sebastian Larsson corner past a helpless Krul.
Newcastle withstood a late onslaught from Sunderland to take a hard-earned point back to Tyneside.
Follow Ross Tweddell on twitter @TwedzTweets
