Half time: Magpies 0 smoggies 0

Full time: Magpies 0 smoggies 0 

A lack of pitch time at loan club Tranmere Rovers saw Jay Turner-Cooke appear for United.

Newcastle's U21 side extended their winless run in PL2 to ten games at Gallowgate on Monday night, after what was a tepid stalemate between two uninspiring sides.  

Boro arrived looking for victory to maintain hopes of a promotion playoff spot, while United were collectively playing for pride and individually for their future careers - either on Tyneside or elsewhere.

Without a clean sheet in 13 games since August, the hosts reached half time without conceding; goalkeeper Max Thompson equal to Jeremy Sivi's 13th minute effort before the goal frame then denied George Gitau.

At the other end meanwhile, Rodrigo Vilca saw his goalbound effort blocked early on before Jamie Miley bundled the ball home following a 38th minute free-kick, only to be denied by an earlier offside flag.

The second period struggled to match what was an unremarkable first half; Boro twice correctly denied goals by offside flags in the 52nd and 53rd minutes.

Newcastle's main attacking outlet was Amadou Diallo, but three piercing forward runs by the left winger failed to produce either a shot or pass worthy of note. 

Things belatedly improved with the introduction of Michael Ndiweni from the bench, almost immediately breaking into the box but dragging his shot wide.

The striker later rolled his shot against a post but it was the visitors who missed the best chance to claim all three points four minutes from the end of normal time; Sam Collins evading a tackle but then failing to win his one on one with Thompson in the Leazes goal. 

Mediocrity may have abounded on the field but the most significant moves were elsewhere, with talk of further progress in a radical upgrade of United's Academy scouting and recruitment operation - something else woefully neglected by the previous regime. 

It's five years to the day that these two sides met in this competition and served up an equally poor 90 minutes at the end of another forgettable season that begged the question why bother at all?

It may take years to establish a credible production line of young talent, but at least the staff arriving here are coming from clubs that have a track record of doing that, not just going through the motions.

Anyone doubting the necessity of that considerable investment should have been here tonight to witness this pointless spectacle. Had it been played to a finish, I might have struggled to make the last Metro home....

Biffa