Half time: Newcastle 0 Boro 0

85 mins Coulson shot. 0-1

Full time: Newcastle 0 Boro 1

After what proved to be his final game in charge, Adam Lawrence said:

"I think overall it was a game that felt like a nil-nil game. It’s obviously disappointing to lose the game in that way.

"I don’t like talking about decisions and referees too much but I didn’t think it was a foul in the first place. Charlie (McArthur) has won the first one and then he’s won the second one and I just think it was a really soft free-kick - but at the same time, you’ve got to defend that situation.

"So it felt like a nil-nil game and to be honest our feeling around the game would be very similar if it finished nil-nil in terms of you feel the team has been competitive, there’s not been much in the game and tonight we created enough situations to score from but we were found lacking in the final third.

"It’s similar to where we have been lacking of late and it’s just a little bit of confidence, that bit of quality, decision-making in and around the final third has ultimately meant we have finished the game without scoring.”

Frankie Coulson's late effort was enough to give the Teessiders all three points at a freezing Whitley Park on Friday, as Newcastle U21s made a losing start to 2026.

Boro almost made a lightning start when Layton Campell bore down on home 'keeper Adam Harrison in the first minute and saw the ball rebound off him but veer narrowly off target.

That was the first of a succession of inaccurate shots from the visitors, before Rio Patterson-Powell's free kick looked destined for the top corner before Harrison intervened.

United created chances of their own, but Kacey Wooster's shot midway through the opening period lacked power and Matheos Ferreira's effort from the left on the half hour flew just past the far post.

Kyle Fitzgerald then earned a booking early in the second half after going to ground in the Boro box in a vain search for a penalty after over-running the ball.

The chances of a goal for either side looked to have gone when a counter-attack by mounted by visiting substitute Daniel James ended with Sonny Finch hitting a post on 75 minutes. 

Boro got a belated reward though, when an 85th minute free kick into the United box by Oliver Samuels reached an offside-looking Coulson, who finished from close range.

Update: Sunday morning brought confirmation that Adam Lawrence had stood down. His assistant Robbie Stockdale has been placed in temporary charge. 

Biffa