Newcastle's U23 side began their Premier League International Cup campaign with a tepid stalemate against their Portuguese counterparts at Whitley Park on Friday - their fifth league and cup game without a victory.

With Ben Dawson again in charge of the side following the departure of coach Neil Redfearn, the hosts made a perfect start with a 13th minute opening goal.

Returning from injury, Rosaire Longelo took a corner that was met by Ludwig Francillette, the defender netting his first goal for the club with a towering header.

However that lead was cancelled out 20 minutes later, the visitors scoring from a corner kick but match referee Aaron Jackson ruling it out in favour of a penalty kick for some unseen transgression by a home player.  

Brazilian forward Daniel Dos Anjos converted from the spot but United should have gone in ahead again at half time, Elliot Anderson shooting straight at the Benfica 'keeper in the second minute of time added on.

Neither side were able to master the conditions; a greasy pitch hardly conducive to passing and little to thrill the small crowd that were present. Some over- zealous refereeing decisions hardly helped the game flow either.

United's best - and only - scoring chance of the second period saw Tom Allan progress down the right flank before standing his cross up to the back post for Jack Young to head into the arms of Fabio Duarte. 

The return of Victor Fernandez and Adam Wilson to fitness saw both appear from the bench, but service to striker Luke Charman remained fitful.

Apparently fizzling out into an uninspiring draw, the visitors almost stole victory in added time when Kevin Csoboth and Nuno Santos combined down the left. However home 'keeper Jake Turner tipped David Zec's goalbound header onto the crossbar and it was cleared.

United's remaining two games in the group stage of this competition are in December, when both Hertha Berlin and Blackburn Rovers will head to Whitley Park.

24 teams enter this competition - 12 domestic, 12 overseas - with six group winners and the two best runners-up progressing to the knockout stages.

Now in its sixth season, this is only the second time that Newcastle have opted to enter, their other involvement in 2017/18 ending in defeat at the semi-final stage to eventual winners, Porto.

Biffa