Newcastle United signed off for the November international break with a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, a result that did little to ease concerns over their attacking form despite a positive performance.
The Magpies had lost four of their last five matches in all competitions since returning from the September and October international break, and head coach Matthias Jaissle had faced fierce criticism over the team's style of play and performances.
Fulham arrived into the match having picked up seven points from their last possible nine in the Premier League to recover from their own difficult start to the season.
Chances wasted at Craven Cottage
Newcastle created the better of the chances and will be the more upset of the two teams not to come away with three points. Top scorer Harvey Barnes missed three golden opportunities, with Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno denying the England international on the first two occasions while the 28-year-old fired narrowly wide on the third.
Lewis Hall could not believe Leno kept out his effort from point blank range in the dying embers of the game, and Newcastle had a goal disallowed when Dan Burn fired home from Jacob Murphy's cross only for Yoane Wissa to have been adjudged offside.
It took a 25-yard screamer from Murphy to break Fulham's resistance, and it was another day where Newcastle created chances but their blunt attack could not convert them.
Striker struggles continue
Wissa and Will Osula started up front together, with Wissa operating in the number 10 role. Osula did not register a shot on goal and was not alive to Amar Dedic's cross to tap home a certain goal in the second half. He also overcooked a pass to Wissa which forced the DR Congo international into a wider angle, and instead of hitting the target, he hit Leno's side-netting.
Wissa and Osula have one goal each to their name this season, and £51m signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who returned to the squad on Saturday after illness, is yet to find the back of the net and failed to make an impact from the bench.
Opportunity missed
Fulham were there for the taking and United fumbled the opportunity to bag a priceless three points. Lukas Hornicek made three top saves to prevent Newcastle falling to a defeat of their own.
When Sander Berge dragged a shot wide of Hornicek's goal, disgruntled home supporters started to chant: 'We've had a shot', indicative of a team having their own formative struggles under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
While it was positive that Newcastle ensured they did not enter the break on the back of three successive defeats, and it quietened the noise surrounding Jaissle, the summer recruitment and the direction of 'Newcastle 2.0', this was more an opportunity missed rather than a point gained.
