MICHAEL OWEN’S redemption is still some way off, even though he scored his 10th goal of the season. Newcastle, seemingly in perpetual crisis, had to rely on Andy Carroll, who scored his first competitive goal for the club four days after he turned 20, to avoid defeat against West Ham, with Shay Given’s goalkeeping again proving vital.

Owen, who reacted strongly to Jose Mourinho’s suggestion that “he is no longer the Michael Owen we all knew”, is desperate to play his way back into Fabio Capello’s plans for England’s friendly next month against European champions Spain. Despite making an early impact, he became a marginal influence the longer the game went on and it was Carroll and Given who proved to be more pivotal figures.

This game highlighted why Newcastle must persuade their Republic of Ireland goalkeeper to stay, though Manchester City are likely to come back before the close of the transfer window with an offer much improved on the “laughable” £3m fee that was summarily dismissed last week.

West Ham, whose own future remains under a cloud, with the Premier League ordering a new inquiry into their conduct in the Carlos Tevez affair and manager Gianfranco Zola uncertain of retaining star men Craig Bellamy, Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker, might have won. “Considering the way we played, I’m a little disappointed,” said Zola.

Newcastle began better and had a claim for a penalty rejected by referee Alan Wiley when James Collins appeared to use his hand to control a header by Carroll from Damien Duff’s cross. Jonas Gutierrez then set up Owen to shoot left-footed from the left side of the box only for the ball to rebound off the far post just as the home fans were beginning to celebrate the opener.

The goal Newcastle desired soon arrived. Owen had plenty to do after receiving left-back Jose Enrique’s pass but, as he glided towards the edge of the penalty area, Collins slipped and the space that opened up was all that he needed.

The home side were by no means in control, however. Former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy’s pace and alertness gave their defence much to think about and his downward header from Herita Ilunga’s cross required Sebastien Bassong to scramble the ball away from Carlton Cole, who was preparing to strike.

The game was open and West Ham’s equaliser was the culmination of some well-versed movement. With his back to goal, Bellamy held up the ball outside the penalty area, slipped it to Scott Parker and the midfielder’s pass back to Bellamy gave the Welsh international a clear run through Newcastle’s defence to place a left-footed shot outside of Given’s reach. Carroll had three minutes earlier squandered an opportunity to double Newcastle’s lead when he headed wide a Danny Guthrie cross.

Either side of the interval Given demonstrated how important he is to Newcastle. When Lucas Neill played a well-timed pass over the Newcastle defence, which allowed Mark Noble to bear down on goal, he had only Given to beat but the Irishman made a great reflex save before Bellamy hit the side netting on the rebound. Early in the second half Given made an even better intervention when Bellamy’s low cross into the box was met by Jack Collison, whose shot from point-blank range drew a fine instinctive reaction, Given somehow keeping the ball out with his right arm.

West Ham were irate that the referee had turned down a strong case for a penalty when Bassong stretched out his left arm and blatantly felled Bellamy but they channelled their fury in the right way and Cole deservedly shot them into the lead in the 55th minute. He controlled Ilunga’s ball over the top with his thigh and delivered a stunning strike into the roof of the net.

The visitors looked likely to hang on for the three points but with 12 minutes left Carroll climbed above Upson to head home Duff’s cross past Green and save the game.

NEWCASTLE: Given 8, Taylor 6, Coloccini 5, Bassong 6, Enrique 5, Duff 7, Guthrie 7, Geremi 5 (N’Zogbia 62min), Gutierrez 7, Owen 7, Carroll 7

WEST HAM: Green 6, Neill 7, Collins 7, Upson 6, Ilunga 6, Behrami 6, Parker 7, Noble 6 (Mullins 86min), Collison 6 (Boa Morte 76min), Bellamy 8, Cole 7