While Newcastle's first team were facing Millwall some 20 miles away, the U21s extended their winless start to the season to four games beaten by current National League Cup holders Boreham Wood.

Clad in their blue change strip, Robbie Stockdale's side took a deserved lead on 10 minutes Matheos Ferreira raced into the right side of the box and beat home 'keeper Ted Curd at his near post.

Curd - on loan from Chelsea - then denied Michael Mills with a shot from the other side of the area as United's pace continued to upset the National League leaders.

The Wood came back into the tie; Farhaan Ali Wahid twice testing Roman Dowell in the United goal before gaining his reward on just half time with a low effort from close range. 19 year-old Wahid is on loan from Fulham, playing for the Cottagers in last season's 0-3 PL2 loss on Tyneside.

United came close to restoring their advantage in the opening exchanges of the second period; striker Vakhtang Salia intercepting Curd's slack clearance some 35 yards out and almost managing to find the net with his lob.

The hosts then took the lead for the first time in the tie after 72 minutes, goalscorer Wahid turning provider by dinking in a centre that substitute Zak Brunt headed in.