Newcastle United's record signing Alexander Isak missed a glorious chance on his home debut against Crystal Palace as the Magpies were held by at St James' Park.
On a frustrating day - in which Eddie Howe's side had 23 goal attempts - they could not find a way past veteran Spanish keeper Vicente Guaita.
There was also a controversial second half moment when VAR denied Newcastle a winner when Joe Wilock was adjudged to have fouled the Palace stopper but United did not get the rub of the green.
READ MORE: January transfer reboot in store, Manquillo lifeline and Anderson deal
Howe set up with his usual 4-3-3 formation and handed Alexander Isak his home bow against the Eagles.
The United boss reshuffled his centre-backs and went with Sven Botman and Fabian Schar ahead of skipper Jamaal Lascelles and Dan Burn.
Newcastle did not win the toss and Palace opted to take the slope in the second half and attack the Gallowgate End.
The game's first shot on target arrived on six minutes after Kieran Trippier conceded a free-kick before the ball bounced back out as far as dangerman Wilfried Zaha but his effort was gathered by Nick Pope.
With nine minutes gone, Joelinton intercepted the ball in midfield and rolled it to Miguel Almiron but he took a poor first touch and Palace regained possession.
Six minutes later Sean Longstaff pulled back Eberechi Eze to concede a free-kick but the set-play came to nothing.
Then came the game's defining moment...
United fans should have been celebrating the opener on 16 minutes when Isak made an interception to rob Joachim Andersen and accelerated towards goal in a central position.
But after the record signing looked to go for the delicate chip over Guaita the former Valencia stopper made a vital block.
Pope was called into action on 27 minutes when Jean-Philippe Mateta's effort on the turn was palmed away from danger.
Newcastle had a treble chance to open the scoring on 31 minutes when Matt Targett's corner was swirled in and headed at goal by Longstaff but Guaita somehow got a hand on it.
Joelinton then tried to turn the rebound home before Sven Botman's effort was deflected over.
Moments later watched on as his shot struck the base of the post with Guaita beaten all ends up.
Trippier's free-kick fell to Botman at the back post on 42 minutes but the keeper again got a hand on it.
A niggling encounter, which saw Longstaff booked for a foul, ended goal-less despite 14 goal attempts from the Magpies.
Newcastle thought they'd taken the lead on 51 minutes when Willock challenged Guaita with Marc Guehi eventually deflecting into his own net.
But after a VAR check and monitor inspection ref Michael Sailsbury chalked the goal off - much to the fury of the Toon bench who felt Willock too had been fouled.
After the controversy had just about settled down Almiron latched on to a ball in the box but after chesting down he flashed it across the face of goal.
Palace carved open Newcastle on the hour after Jordan Ayew slipped Mateta through but his effort was easy for Pope.
Palace made a treble change on 62 minutes as Eze went off for Michael Olise, Mateta was replaced by Odsonne Edouard and Nathaniel Clyne came on for Tyrick Mitchell.
Howe's first changes of the day came six minutes later as he sent on Jacob Murphy and Elliot Anderson for Fraser and Almiron.
Pope came to the rescue again on 73 minutes as he got down to block Edouard's shot after he'd wriggled through with the England keeper using his knee to make a fine save.
United responded with a good move which ended with Willock striking a low shot at goal but the Palace keeper somehow got a fingertip to it.
Howe replaced Targett with Dan Burn for the closing stages with the left-back exhausted.
Pope made another good block with eight minutes left as Ayew got free down the right-hand side.
Anderson did well to win a corner with five minutes left and after Trippier's delivery from the right the ball was knocked down by Botman but Willock hooked the ball wide.
Longstaff won a free-kick with two minutes left but Trippier's powerful effort struck the wall and when the ball was reworked into the box Isak's close range effort was deflected over.
A last gasp free-kick in stoppage time was played in by Trippier but Fabian Schar could only head wide.
And the final blast of Sailsbury's whistle quickly followed to signal a stalemate at St James' Park.
READ NEXT
- Inside Newcastle United new boy Alexander Isak's low key press unveiling
- The inside story of Newcastle United's transfer window - all the bids, stories and 'mega opportunity'
- 'They get a shock', Kieran Trippier describes reactions of visiting teams who turn up at St James' Park
- Newcastle's two deadline day transfer bids and Howe sends message to Joao Pedro
- Joao Pedro transfer truth and Newcastle's deadline day stance
