1/2 saw the Magpies' one-nil up thanks to a Craig Bellamy strike just six minutes before the break, but the home side staged a comeback and looked a different side after the interval.
IN the end, it was former Coventry midfielder Runar Normann who gave Valerenga the equaliser.
SIR BOBBY ROBSON: "I feel, because of their better, inspired second half performance, that they deserved to get something out of the game.
"We were the better side first half, but I think one or two of our players thought the game was over at half-time and it wasn't, obviously. They came out full of spirit, changed their game a little bit, hit longer passes, put the ball in behind our defenders, made us turn and made it uncomfortable for us.
"They came into the game and our two wide players were pushed back, so we didn't get anything down the flanks, and because of that, our forward play disappeared as well, so in the second half, they were more or less in control of the game.
"The goal obviously gave them a lift, gave them a big inspiration, did a lot for them, so from looking comfortable at half-time, we found ourselves under siege a little bit.
"I didn't think we looked as though we would concede a lot of goals, but they were very much in the game and Shay Given did make a very good save late in the second half.
"That's what he's there for, of course, but they played some decent football. We've got an away goal - I suppose that's quite important - but I have to say I'm going back home disappointed in the result because I didn't expect we would only draw.
"I felt we could come here and win - we're in good form and a difficult team to beat. We haven't lost today, but we didn't play well enough, I have to admit, over 90 minutes to win this match and their second-half performance deservedly gives them a bit of a chance at Newcastle.
"I didn't under-estimate our opponents at all - I respect our opponents. But we have a big squad, we have a talented squad.
"It was never in my mind to play Shearer here. We have a tough match at Portsmouth on Sunday and with the squad we have, we felt we could do well in this match without them."
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