20 mins Munda shot. 1-0

Half time: Newcastle U21s 1 mackem U21s 0

88 mins Tutierov header. 1-1

Full time: Newcastle U21s 1 mackem U21s 1

There were PL2 debuts for both Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett.

This is the second season that PL2 has been played in an amended one division format, meaning that this was the only scheduled derby meeting at U21 level.

Last season saw the Magpies win the sole derby fixture 3-2 at the academy of plight. However, the red and whites finished seventh in the 26 team league; 15 points and 15 places above Newcastle.

News of a permanent appointment of an U21 Head Coach to succeed Ben Dawson is awaited, with current Academy duo Neil Winskill and Jack Ross sharing the role at present.

An 88th minute equaliser prevented Newcastle U21s from making a winning start to the PL2 season at Whitley Park on Monday night.

Leading through Anthony Munda's first half strike, United were pegged back when Tymur Tutierov headed past Max Thompson shortly after arriving from the bench.

Both sides then had chances to claim all three points;  Magpies substitute Josh Donaldson denied by a point-blank save from goalkeeper Kelechi Chibueze.

Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett both started - the latter returning to action for the first time since limping off in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford in November.     

The Magpies went ahead in the 20th minute when a give and go between Anthony Munda and Alfie Harrison down the right flank ended with Munda expertly netting from a narrow angle.

That lead was almost doubled a minute later when Trevan Sanusi burst into the box but his shot was beaten away by Chibueze.

Sanusi was proving to be his side's chief forward threat,  making a succession of tricky runs down the left.

Newcastle's lead was kept intact at the interval thanks to Max Thompson; in particular one acrobatic save to deny Tommy Watson.

Trippier and Targett were replaced at half time as planned, with the visitors steadily gaining the initiative without managing to find the goal that began to look increasingly inevitable as the half continued.

Sanusi spent increasing amounts of time on the ground as the visitors tried to keep him in check by all means possible and he inevitably tired before going off.

Just as the U21s seemed set to emulate their senior counterparts on Saturday and stonewall their way to a 1-0 win, a left wing centre wasn't gathered by Max Thompson and Ukrainian striker Tutierov headed in.

Biffa