It was a disappointing evening at St James' Park as Newcastle United were denied the three points which they fully deserved, after the lively encounter with Portsmouth late on April 27. The Magpies are still well and truly in the relegation zone, having climbed to 18th place, with 34 games under their belt and just 31 points, which means they have less than a point accumulated per game this season. Hull City are 17th with 34 points, out of 34 outings.

The disappointment will be bitter, as Newcastle had the opportunities but failed to make the most out of them. Manager Alan Shearer however dismissed all the gloom and doom merchants and is certain that his troops can do the business in the four remaining fixtures until the end of the campaign.

"Chances wise yes, result-wise no," was the Magpies manager's response to whether the formation had worked. "But the chances were there. On another night, we could have scored some," he said, quoted by the club's website.

"It's ironic really. The three players I wanted up there all had one very good chance each so you would expect at least one of those to go in - but they didn't. I'm putting as many forwards on the pitch as possible in the last 15 minutes, knowing that I'm taking a gamble and leaving one or two gaps at the back which they might exploit.

"Even when Viduka, in his first start since December and second of the season, was substituted in the second half, he was replaced by another striker in Andy," he said in a post match interview.

The fact that United could only muster a point against Pompey places their future in the balance. Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka all wasted good chances on a frustrating night for home fans. On another night, Newcastle could have easily scored three, but then again, Pompey had their chances as well.

David James was solid against Michael Owen and Martins, who were both through on goal, while Magpies keeper Steve Harper made a fingertip save from Nadir Belhadj.

And to complete the frustration for Newcastle, Portsmouth had the opportunity to steal three points towards the very end of the encounter from a Richard Hughes header which struck the woodwork.

The Toon pushed bodies forward to claim the win but it wasn't going to happen and the frustration on the ground was obvious. As the final whistle blew, Newcastle supporters were booing their team off the pitch. Regardless, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer and co will have four more matches to prove to everyone that they are too good to be relegated.

Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique (Guthrie 28), Smith, Butt (Gutierrez 71), Duff, Viduka (Carroll 64), Martins, Owen.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Davis, Belhadj, Hughes, Mullins, Nugent (Pennant 65), Crouch.