Half time: Magpies 0 Wolves 0

52 mins Allan Saint-Maximin's refusal to give up despite overwhelming odds on the left hand side of the Wolves box saw him twist and turn and cross a ball which reached Ryan Fraser. The substitute sent over a fine cross that Jamaal Lascelles rose to head down and in at the Gallowgate End. 1-0

73 mins Wolves broke down the right and Pedro Neto lost Jamal Lewis before crossing for Ruben Neves to head beyond Martin Dubravka - although he got a hand to it and should have kept it out. The personnel change just seconds earlier was also crucial; Hayden not getting the instructions via the arriving Ritchie to occupy a defensive position and crucially standing off Neves. 1-1

Full time: Magpies 1 Wolves 1

Amongst the flowery pre-game comments from Steve Bruce was a reference to reaching the crux of the season, but on the evidence of tonight the Newcastle Manager may have actually meant crutch. 

Having lost Javier Manquillo, Callum Wilson and Fabian Schar to injury during the last home game, another trio of players limped out of the action here - including both of our main creative threats.

Miguel Almiron failed to appear for the second half due to a knee injury and groin strain victim Allan Saint-Maximin joined him in the dressing room just after the hour; Emil Krafth then unable to continue with a shin complaint.

Those absences required various on-field alterations and although one was successful as replacement Ryan Fraser crossed for Jamal Lascelles to head his side ahead, momentary confusion during a further reshuffle costing the hosts a clean sheet.

As a consequence, the points were shared between these two sides who scored a goal each against each other for the fifth time in succession - an outcome that does little to alleviate the current state of fear on Tyneside.

Leading through that Lascelles effort seven minutes after the break, United's first stalemate in 11 games came when the recalled Martin Dubravka faied to block a Ruben Neves header 17 minutes before the end.

Going into this game following back to back away defeats at Chelsea and Manchester United, the black and whites began brightly and did everything but score in the opening half hour.

Isaac Hayden headed at Rui Patricio and the visiting 'keeper then blocked to deny Joelinton, but the clearest chance saw Almiron drive into the box from the right before striking the base of the far post with his 12th minute shot.

Saint-Maximin then knocked the ball into the unguarded net after Joe Willock had seen his shot bounce back off Rui Patricio in the 24th minute, but an offside flag correctly penalised the scorer.

At the other end, Dubravka was called into action, pushing Adama Traore's 32nd minute header onto a post and Wolves came more into the contest from then - the ex-Boro winger starting to tease and torment right back Krafth.

Scoreless at the break, Ryan Fraser replaced the ailing Almiron and took just seven minutes to send over a fine cross that Lascelles rose to head down and in at the Gallowgate End.

Sadly though that was as good as it got, ASM's night ending ten minutes later and his side momentarily a man short after replacement Jacob Murphy sauntered on.

Newcastle struggled to retain possession from that point and thus encouraged, Wolves broke down the right and Neto lost Jamal Lewis before crossing for Neves to head beyond Dubravka.

The arrival of Ritchie seconds earlier and some confusion over reshuffling the side looked costly - a situation not unlike that which befell Jetro Willems at home to Arsenal in Bruce's first game. Comments from Lascelles post-match backed up tonight's apparent lack of clarity.

Without fashioning clear-cut chances, the visitors looked more likely to find a winner but a golden opportunity was squandered by United in the 81st minute.

Murphy jinked his way into the Wolves box from the right before pulling the ball back to Joelinton on the penalty spot. His first-time effort was towards the middle of the goal but had eluded Rui Patricio - only to then glance off Romain Saiss as he ran behind his own 'keeper.

Five minutes of additional time then saw Dubravka earn his side a point, although replays showed that a block to deny substitute Fabio Silva from close range was off his collar bone rather than a fist. 

Had birthday boy Callum Wilson been fit enough to play tonight, his side would surely have collected three points not one. In his absence - and even before the latest crop of knocks - goalscoring remains a worry.

Amidst the frustration of being unable to retain a lead and the concerns over that mounting sick list, there were positives to be taken from this overall display. Chances were at least made, if not taken (although Willock will curse the fact he couldn't connect properly with that first half chance before ASM's offside rebound).

The stark reality though is that there's now one less game in which to collect one of the victories that we desperately require to survive - and the pressure on Bruce & Co. has gone up another notch, or several if the Almiron injury is as bad as first feared.

(On that particular subject, were the injury not too serious, but sufficient to prevent Miggy from linking up with Paraguay in March, then that would at least solve the looming quarantine issue).

Bruce's man management skills were also under scrutiny again here; blaming Ritchie for the second half miscommunication and undermining Dubravka on his return - having already acted poorly over Darlow's dropping by tipping off press pals at the start of the week before the player was informed.

Add that to the continual rumours swirling around about disputes with squad members currently out of favour and it's a pretty unedifying picture all round. 

Sympathy won't keep us up and every relegated side has a hard luck story. This remains a looming catastrophe; the stench of decay lingers on - and our fate increasingly looks to be in the hands of those around us, notably our former boss at the Hawthorns next Sunday.

Biffa