NEWCASTLE 0, LEEDS UNITED 0

Newcastle: Harper (Krul 60), Enrique, Barton, Bassong (Nolan 59), Taylor, Smith (Donaldson 84), Gutierrez, Beye (Lualua 69), Ameobi (Coloccini 60), Carroll (Xisco 69), Taylor. Subs: Donaldson.

United: Higgs (Ankergren 59), Crowe, Marques, Kisnorbo (Michalik 59), Parker (White 84), Snodgrass (Hughes 59), Delph, Howson (Prutton 71), Johnson (Robinson 70), Beckford, Becchio (Grella 71). Subs:

Referee: N Miller

Att: 16,945

You can see extended highlights plus reaction later on LUTV...

United manager Simon Grayson named an unchanged team for the penultimate senior pre-season friendly of the summer, against Coca-Cola Championship newcomers Newcastle.

The home side looked equally as strong as the Blackburn team which United had faced the previous weekend. Former Academy product Alan Smith was skippering Newcastle in a team that was full of former Premiership players.

The game had certainly captured the interest of the travelling fans with a corner section almost full before kick-off, and with many more queuing outside for tickets, Grayson's men were backed by a sizeable following.

While the rest of St James's Park was sparsely populated, the Leeds fans certainly wasted no time in turning up the volume.

And it was Leeds who threatened early on when Robert Snodgrass sent a shot wide of the mark from distance.

But United goalkeeper Shane Higgs was called upon early doors when he pulled off a good save to deny Ryan Taylor, and it was Newcastle who enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure on the fringes of the Leeds box.

United were restricted to looking to move on the break, and on 24 minutes Jermaine Beckford sent an angled shot fizzing over the top after managing to break clear.

Shortly before the half-hour, Shola Ameobi tried his luck from distance with an effort which Higgs got down well to.

On 40 minutes, as Newcastle continued to threaten, Higgs made the save of the game when he clawed away a Ryan Taylor effort from point-blank range to keep the scores level.

Leeds had a couple of free-kicks cleared shortly before half-time - both from Robert Snodgrass - as Grayson's men enjoyed their best spell in terms of possession and passing.

But it was Newcastle who had the first real chance of the second half when Sebastien Bassong headed wide from close range, following a cross from the left. Ryan Taylor also rattled the bar during a spell of early pressure for the home side.

On 55 minutes, it was Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper who came to the rescue of the home side when he palmed away a Beckford header.

There were a number of changes for both sides on the hour-mark and it was Leeds substitute Andrew Hughes who forced Newcastle replacement goalkeeper Tim Krul into a save when he turned a Bradley Johnson drive towards goal.

Krul also got down well when, after a pacy solo run, Beckford had a shot deflected on 68 minutes.

It was Newcastle who had an opportunity on 77 minutes when Fabricio Coloccini put the ball over the top, following a free-kick, but the biggest cheer of the night from the home fans came when a lone pitch invader managed to evade a steward before sliding across the turf in mock celebration.

Moments later, after Andy Robinson won a corner for Leeds, Krul clung onto another Beckford header after Hughes's set-play was nodded on by Lubo Michalik.

And Krul got the faintest of touches on a Mike Grella shot after the American worked himself an opening just inside the box.

It was the turn of Casper Ankergren to make a good block with five minutes remaining when he raced off his line to deny Kazenga Lualua.

As the clock ticked down, Beckford had a shot deflected into the arms of Krul, following some good work by Grella, as Leeds looked to snatch a winner.

But there was to be winner on the pitch, although the travelling fans will claim the honours off it, for a terrific display of support for a pre-season game.