However, Ameobi insisted he was desperate to take part in the derby.
Ameobi: "With the fact we had a few injuries, when he asked me if I wanted to play, there was only going to be one answer.
"It was a big thing, not just because of where we are, but the opposition was our arch-rivals. I wanted to play.
"We were disappointed we did not take the three points in the end but it is a starting point for us.
"The second-half display from the boys was fantastic. We have to play a lot more like that if we are going to win games."