NEWCASTLE, September 20, 2014 (AFP) – Embattled Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was handed a lifeline as Senegal striker Papiss Cisse scored twice to salvage a 2-2 draw against Hull on Saturday.

Cisse came off the bench as a 69th minute substitute on his return from a knee injury with the Magpies trailing 2-0 to superb strikes from Nikica Jelavic and Mohamed Diame.

On a tense day when Newcastle fans once again called for Pardew’s sacking after their woeful start to the Premier League season, it seemed Hull’s two-goal blast might signal the end of their Newcastle manager’s reign.

But within five minutes of his arrival, Cisse had dragged Newcastle back into the game with his first goal since March, and he struck again with just three minutes remaining to hand Pardew at least a temporary reprieve as he battles to save his job.

Newcastle’s point lifted them off the bottom of the table, but they remain without a win after five league matches this season.

Fans arriving at St James’ Park were provided with placards urging Mike Ashley to dismiss Pardew, although the owner had earlier indicated privately that there would be no knee-jerk reaction to the current situation.

Despite talk all week of concerted protests, the 53-year-old was initially booed only sporadically on his forays into the technical area.

Unfortunately for Pardew, Newcastle were unable to convert their first half chances, with striker Emmanuel Riviere, still awaiting his first competitive goal for the club, heading wide with five minutes gone and then seeing a shot blocked by Hull defender Michael Dawson.

Remy Cabella had toe-poked an effort straight at keeper Allan McGregor after running on to Moussa Sissoko’s pass, while Yoan Gouffran headed straight at McGregor.

Croatian striker Jelavic made Newcastle pay for those misses when presented with a clear-cut chance four minutes into the second half.

Jack Colback was guilty of dwelling on the ball inside his own penalty area and when it was fed out to Ahmed Elmohamady, he clipped it towards Jelavic, who volleyed it spectacularly past Tim Krul.

Anti-Pardew chants rang out once again and the atmosphere grew even more volatile in the 68th minute when Diame was allowed time and space to move the ball on to his left foot before unleashing a shot which screamed past Krul off a post.

Pardew had Cisse ready on the sideline as the second goal went in, and his decision to use him as a replacement rather than strike-partner for Riviere did not go down well.

However, the Senegal international made his mark within five minutes of his arrival, drilling a shot past McGregor at his near post.

And there was more to come from Cisse as he stabbed home an 87th-minute equaliser from Gouffran’s knockdown to snatch a dramatic point.