Michael Owen's return to goal-scoring form could not secure Kevin Keegan his first win as Middlesbrough fought back to deny Newcastle all three points.
German international defender Robert Huth headed home an 87th-minute Julio Arca cross to cancel out Owen's 60th-minute strike and extend the Magpies' winless English Premier League run to eight games.
But it might have been even worse with the Teessiders having an injury-time effort from Jeremie Aliadiere ruled out for offside.
Owen had served England boss Fabio Capello with a timely reminder of his predatory instincts when he glanced home a free-kick on the hour to end his side's 455-minute wait for a league goal - his first since October 7.
Owen had been enduring an ordinary game despite having two earlier strikes disallowed, the first of them controversially.
But a game which gathered pace as it wore on eventually ended even as Boro were rewarded for a late onslaught in front of a crowd of 51,105.
The Tyne-Tees derby pitched two sides lurking on the fringes of the battle for survival into battle - with Newcastle, just two points better off than their local rivals.
Boro arrived content to pack the midfield area with Aliadiere operating as a lone striker, giving themselves greater solidity, but the capacity to attack on the counter.
That was something they did only towards the end of the opening 45 minutes as with the pace of Gary O'Neil and Stewart Downing on the wings causing the Magpies problems, although leading to few genuine openings.
There were few chances of note at either end with Aliadiere's scuffed shot on the half-hour the only save Shay Given had to make, with Schwarzer not called upon until injury-time to deal with a similarly mis-hit Alan Smith effort.
However, it might have been so different for Keegan's men had referee Mike Dean not chalked out Owen's fourth-minute header.
The official blew when the England international had stabbed home the loose ball after Mark Schwarzer had dropped Emre's corner at his feet, although there seemed to be minimal contact between the two men.
Owen had the ball in the net once again in the 20th minute with a back-post header, but Emre's corner had clearly gone out of play.
But on the whole, Newcastle again lacked the creative spark to open up a Boro side which were nothing if not rugged in its approach - David Wheater and Aliadiere were both booked for fouls and Lee Cattermole was fortunate not to be - and Southgate would have been the happier manager at the break, although not by much.
Southgate will have been far more satisfied, however, 10 minutes into the second half as his side made a concerted push.
Steven Taylor had to make a vital block after Aliadiere had taken advantage of Claudio Cacapa's lapse in concentration to pick out Gary O'Neil.
Given came to the rescue on 53 minutes to parry Downing's shot as it bounced nastily in front of him, and collect O'Neil's follow-up at the near post.
However, when the breakthrough finally arrived, it was at the other end as Owen came to life just when he needed to.
Luke Young was penalised for a foul on Charles N'Zogbia wide on the left, and when Emre curled the ball to the near post, the England striker timed his run to perfection to glance a header past Schwarzer.
Had O'Neil retained