NEWCASTLE UNITED’S final game of 2022 ended in frustration as they were held to a goalless draw by Leeds United at a sodden St James’ Park.

The Magpies’ created the more threatening opportunities during a keenly-contested encounter, but Sean Longstaff failed to find the target when he shot over from 12 yards and Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier made a fine second-half save from a Fabian Schar header.

Nick Pope denied Rodrigo at the other end to ensure Newcastle have still suffered just one defeat so far this season, with the draw keeping the Magpies in third position in the Premier League table, two points clear of fourth-placed Manchester United, who were winners at Wolves.

With Callum Wilson only deemed to be fit enough to take up a place on the bench, Eddie Howe stuck with the same Newcastle side that had proved too good for Leicester on Boxing Day.

Leeds lost to Manchester City in their most recent game prior to travelling to the North-East, but the visitors created the first opportunity as Wilfried Gnonto cut in from the left in the third minute, only to send a shot sailing high over the bar.

Newcastle’s first opening came three minutes later, but while Chris Wood rounded Meslier after racing onto a through ball from Kieran Trippier, he was forced very wide and was unable to get a shot away.

The Magpies were the more threatening side throughout a frenetic first half, but struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities as Leeds made a decent job of closing their opponents down in the central areas.

Joelinton saw a 20-yard effort saved by Meslier, Schar put a header wide from a corner and a stretching Dan Burn only narrowly failed to stab home after Joelinton headed Trippier’s corner back across goal, but Leeds also carried a threat on the counter-attack, with Gnonto especially dangerous as he looked to break down the left flank.

Gnonto was involved in the 22nd-minute move that ended with Brenden Aaronson fashioning a shooting opportunity, but the American’s effort from inside the area was blocked by Sven Botman.

Botman was involved at the other end moments later, sliding in a back-post shot that was saved by Meslier, but the final chance of the opening period fell to Leeds, with former Newcastle transfer target Jack Harrison dribbling his way into the 18-yard box before shooting wide of the post.

Trippier’s set-pieces were Newcastle’s main goalscoring threat for most of the afternoon, and when the Magpies skipper swung a free-kick into the box eight minutes after the break, Dan Burn set up Wood with a headed knock-down. The New Zealander slid in to get a shot away, but Meslier was off his line smartly to block the effort.

Pope was called into action at the other end moments later, clawing away Rodrigo’s shot as he hurled himself to his right, and Howe opted to make a double change shortly after the hour mark, introducing Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin.

The changes helped keep the Magpies on the front foot, and the deadlock was almost broken in the 68th minute when Miguel Almiron pulled the ball back into the path of Sean Longstaff from the byline, but the midfielder failed to find the target with his first-time strike.