Half time: Newcastle 0 Potters 0

75 mins Parry volley 0-1

78 mins Heardman shot 1-1

Full time: Newcastle 1 Potters 1

Newcastle's U21 side extended their winless league and cup run to eight games in 2015 as they were held by the Potters at St. James' Park on Monday evening.

And although the Magpies retained third spot in Division Two, victory for Middlesbrough away at West Bromwich Albion strengthened their position at the top of the table - Boro now six points ahead of United.

A drab contest did little to warm the sparse crowd at a perishing cold Gallowgate until the final quarter of an hour, when a football match belatedly broke out.

The visitors went ahead in the 75th minute, when recently-arrived substitute Robbie Parry volleyed home a right wing cross from Joel Taylor. That came just seconds after Newcastle's Tom Heardman went one on one with City goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai but saw his shot blocked.

However the Magpies forward was not to be denied and his fourth league goal of the season arrived with 12 minutes of normal time remaining - strike partner Adam Armstrong threading a ball across the six yard box for Heardman to stab home at the Gallowgate End.

A late flurry from the Magpies then came close to securing all three points, Jamie Sterry finding Armstrong with his centre from the right on 87 minutes, only for the youngster to miscue his shot and miss the target.

With time running out Olivier Kemen had a long range shot tipped away by Gyollai and Liam Smith tested the Potters 'keeper from a narrow angle, although pulling the ball back for a colleague may have been wiser.

Biffa