Peter Beardsley's U21 side extended their lead at the top of Division Two on Monday afternoon - but the Baggies will wonder just how they failed to leave Darsley Park with all three points.

Ahead from their first attack, United proceeded to play second fiddle for much of the game to a lively Albion attack who levelled after the break but were denied a winner by goalkeeper Jak Alnwick and the goal frame.   

Barely three minutes had elapsed when Jonas Gutierrez cleared out of defence to Siem De Jong in the centre circle and he in turn released Gabriel Obertan.

The Frenchman played a clever ball to the overlapping Gutierrez on the right and his low centre was touched in by striker Tom Heardman from close range for his third league goal of the season.

Albion immediately looked to cancel out that advantage and Kemar Roofe's shot was touched onto the post by Alnwick just three minute later - the 'keeper blocking an angled drive by Tyler Roberts from the corner kick.

Playing for the second time since recovering from a thigh injury, Obertan looked lively and was Newcastle's main threat - although much of his approach work wasn't capitalised upon, to his evident frustration. De Jong meanwhile also had a steady afternoon in his second comeback game, keeping out of trouble as a deep-lying central midfielder.

Dominating the second half, United defender Jamie Sterry hooked clear from his own six yard box just before the hour and Alnwick twice denied Roberts seconds later.

The inevitable equaliser arrived on 59 minutes though, when Kemar Roofe met a left wing cross and gave Alnwick no chance. Adil Nabi then thought he'd netted with 20 minutes to go when his shot beat Alnwick, only to rebound off the inside of the post and stay out.

A rare home attack in the 75th minute then saw Gutierrez cross from the right for Heardman to head narrowly wide of the goal, but despite a mini-revival from United late on, Albion custodian Alex Palmer had very little to do.