NEWCASTLE, England, Feb 2, 2009 (AFP) - Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear admits his side need at least 16 more points to be sure of a happy ending to their season from hell.
Kinnear's team are just one point above the relegation zone after Sunday's 1-1 draw against local rivals Sunderland at St James Park and a tense slog for survival lies in wait for the Magpies.
It has been a remarkably bleak season even by Newcastle's often turbulent standards.
Kevin Keegan's departure following a series of rows with Newcastle's directors over the club's transfer policy caused outrage among fans and led to protests against owner Mike Ashley, who has tried in vain to sell up ever since.
Ashley's decision to appoint Joe Kinnear as Keegan's replacement sparked further criticism from fans and the Newcastle manager's widely reported slanging match with journalists soon after his arrival added to the sense of a club in crisis.
After losing Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka and Joey Barton to long-term injuries, as well as coping with Shay Given's desire to leave and Charles N'Zogbia's bust-up with team-mate Andy Carroll, Kinnear has had just about enough of the 2008-09 season.
Stopping Sunderland from claiming a first league double in the Tyne-Wear derby for 42 years was a cause of some celebration on Sunday, which only goes to show how far Newcastle have fallen.
Watched by Ashley, who attended his first game for several months, Shola Ameobi smashed home the 69th-minute penalty which cancelled out Djibril Cisse's first half goal.
Now Kinnear has set his players the points target he believes will be enough to avoid a return to the Championship for the first time since 1993.
"I want to get 16, 17 (more) points, forget about this season and start looking for next season with a different attitude and a different team," Kinnear said.
"This has been a struggle from day one since I walked in here. We have been torn to shreds with turmoil, injuries - we have had the lot."
Kinnear hopes to make two signings before the transfer window closes on Monday, although he admitted a move for Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia was rejected by the Reds.
"I have spent most of the last two days trying to get finance and players," he said. "I tried for one centre-half, but got knocked back. Liverpool weren't prepared to let Hyypia out.
"I want to get somebody with experience because of the position we are in. We have a very young back four and I just want somebody who is a good organiser."
Sunderland enjoyed the better of the first half and deservedly took the lead when Cisse collected Dean Whitehead's throughball and beat goalkeeper Steve Harper at the second attempt with the home defence appealing in vain for an offside flag.
However the Magpies responded after the break and got themselves back on terms in controversial circumstances.
Steven Taylor went to ground under Steed Malbranque's challenge as he surged into the penalty area with referee Howard Webb, who had earlier booked Damien Duff for diving inside the box, astonishing the visitors by pointing to the spot.
Ameobi kept his nerve to thump the penalty past Marton Fulop and into the roof of the net.
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia said: "I don't think Malbranque actually made contact, I think he actually stubbed the ground. But Mr Webb gave it and we can't do anything about it.
"We maybe had the benefit that he didn't send Phil Bardsley off for his rash tackle later on in the game. Overall, I am pleased to come here and get a point."
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