TOON: Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Khizanishvili, Ryan Taylor, Guthrie (Ranger 85), Smith, Nolan, Gutierrez (Carroll 65), Harewood, Lovenkrands. Subs Not Used: Krul, Geremi, Butt, Kadar, Donaldson.
ROBINS: Gerken, Orr, Carey, Nyatanga, McAllister (McCombe 46), Elliott, Johnson (Williams 72), Skuse, Sno, Maynard, Saborio (Haynes 59). Subs Not Used: Clarkson, Hartley, Sproule.
City keeper Dean Gerken not only put in a man-of-the-match performance he may never repeat again, but he dented Newcastle's promotion charge that would have been a lot worse had West Brom won at Preston.
Gerken was only in the side because Adriano Basso injured himself during the warm-up, but he produced saves to deny Danny Guthrie and Kevin Nolan and kept his side in it when they should have been dead and buried.
Marlon Harewood had earlier hit the post and Steven Taylor and Kevin Nolan both headed against the crossbar, but they don't appear on the scoresheet at the end of the match.
The home fans once again made their feelings about owner Mike Ashley ... and the sooner the Fat Controller gets his arse out of Northumberland the happier the place will be.
Chris Hughton left young strikers Andy Carroll and Nile Ranger on the bench as he went with Marlon Harewood and Peter Lovenkrands up front.
The home side had two ambitious penalty appeals turned down inside the opening five minutes, although it was City who produced the first shot, Steve Harper getting down well to save Nicky Maynard's long-range effort.
But it was Newcastle who almost took the lead with 10 minutes gone when Lovenkrands lifted the ball over the top for Harewood, whose shot came back off the post with Gerken beaten.
Robins midfielder Cole Skuse saw a blistering 15th-minute half-volley deflected just over, and Steven Taylor had to mop up in front of his own unguarded goal after Zurab Khizanishvili's woefully short back-pass allowed Lee Johnson to beat Harper to the ball.
The Magpies keeper had to get down well to claim Johnson's 40th-minute cross at his near post after Evander Sno had picked out the midfielder's run into the box.
Gerken was back in action within two minutes of the restart when he had to get down well to field a Jonas Gutierrez shot with Newcastle making a concerted push.
Lovenkrands went agonisingly wide with a left-foot drive after an enterprising 52nd-minute run across the edge of the City penalty area, and Gerken saved from Harewood four minutes later as the pressure mounted.
The keeper saved the visitors twice within seconds, clawing out a Guthrie volley and then turning away Nolan's header, but needed the help of the woodwork again when Steven Taylor and then Nolan both hit the bar.
Referee Graham Salisbury astonishingly waved away Harewood's claims for a penalty after he was brought down by substitute Jamie McCombe with 16 minutes remaining, and City managed to weather a lattorm to claim a point.