Newcastle United hosted Metalist Kharkiv in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie at St James' Park this evening.
The Magpies, unbeaten in their last 11 home European fixtures, had their work cut out against a Ukrainian outfit who had conceded just three goals during the group stages.
Myrom Markevich's men have not played competitively in some time, as their domestic season is over, and their fitness levels waned in the second half as Newcastle pushed for a winner.
However, the visitors held strong to record a goalless draw.
You can read how all the action unfolded with us below.
Evening all. Welcome to Sports Mole for coverage of tonight's Europa League last-32 clash between Newcastle United and Metalist Kharkiv.
Let me waste no time in giving you the team news from St James' Park...
METALIST: Goryainov; Villagra, Gueye, Torsiglieri, Fininho; Edmar, Torres; Marlos, Cleiton Xavier, Sosa; Cristaldo
NEWCASTLE: Krul; Yanga-Mbiwa, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Tiote, Cabaye; Obertan, Sissoko, Gutierrez; Cisse
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa makes his full debut in defence for the Magpies following his two appearances as a substitute. Cheick Tiote starts in midfield despite his trouble with the law. With no Yoan Gouffran, Papiss Cisse leads the line alone.
It's the first-ever meeting between these two sides. Newcastle have twice faced Dynamo Kiev in the group stages of the Champions League (1997, 2002). In those four encounters, they won twice, lost once and drew once.
Metalist have only faced English opposition on one previous occasion, when they met Everton in the first round of the 2007-2008 competition. The Toffees overcame a scare to progress courtesy of a 4-3 aggregate scoreline.
Newcastle are unbeaten in 11 European home games since a 2-1 loss to Deportivo La Coruna in the 2005 InterToto Cup, winning eight and drawing three.
Their record in this particular competition reads even better. Their last defeat came to Monaco in the 1996-1997 quarter-finals some 25 games ago.
Metalist qualified for the knockout stages after finishing top of Group K. They have lost just once in this year's competition, falling 1-0 to Rapid Vienna in their final group game. Bayer Leverkusen finished second in the group.
Meanwhile, Newcastle finished runners up to Bordeaux in Group D.
The winner of this tie faces a last-16 clash with either Anzhi Makhackhala or Hannover 96. The Russian side won the first leg 3-1 earlier today, despite falling behind on their home patch.
There has already been one result in the Europa League involving and English team this evening, with Liverpool losing 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.
Oscar has just given Chelsea the lead against Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic. You can follow the closing stages of that match here with Barney Corkhill.
Want some information on Metalist coach Myron Markevich? Ok, here you go: He has sought the advice of men such as Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti. He was appointed coach of the Ukrainian national team in February 2010, but stood down in August to concentrate on Metalist. He also plays piano.
The full-time whistle has gone in Prague and Chelsea have triumphed 1-0 courtesy of that Oscar goal.
Metalist are currently fourth in the Ukrainian Premier League. Shakhtar Donetsk are the runaway leaders having won 17 of their 18 games this season. Newcastle have endured a disappointing campaign in the Premier League and find themselves in 16th. Although, results have picked up recently following a January spending spree.
Metalist Kharkiv played a warm-up game behind closed doors earlier this week, and Magpies boss Alan Pardew said that his assistant John Carver braved some wild weather to do some scouting. "Metalist are a quality side," the 51-year-old told ITV Sport.
MY PREDICTION: Newcastle 1-1 Metalist
I think Newcastle might struggle tonight. Metalist have quite a bit of recent experience in this competition, and teams from Ukraine tend to be technically adept. The hosts have a strong starting lineup out, so we'll see what happens.
Right, the players have completed the pre-match handshake and we're now just moments from kickoff. St James' is noisy.
Metalist get this game underway...
Plenty of enthusiasm from both teams in the opening couple of minutes, but there have been a few loose touches. The adrenaline is still pumping for a few of these players.
Cisse's eyes light up as a Metalist defender slightly under hits a back pass, but Goryainov cleared his lines comfortably.
Obertan gets on the ball and tries to work an opening down the left, but the ball is put behind for a corner.
Cabaye's delivery is headed away at the near post. You expect better from the Frenchman.
Santon concedes a corner at the other end. The delivery is better than Cabaye's, but Newcastle still managed to clear the danger.
Santon drills a ball into the area but it's dealt with by Torsiglieri. Cisse was lurking just behind him.
Some Metalist players look really comfortable on the ball. Others, not so much. But there's definitely a threat there for Newcastle.
Gutierrez wins a corner for Newcastle. Again, Cabaye's delivery leaves a lot to be desired as it fails to clear the first man.
SHOT! We have a shot on goal (at last). Obertan drifts inside from the left and unleashes a right-footed shot, but drags it wide of the post.
Marlos advances forward but Tiote reclaims the ball with a wonderful tackle. Newcastle then try to break, but Obertan is muscled off the ball.
CHANCE! Marlos slips a lovely ball through for Cristaldo, but another Metalist player gets in his way and makes the chance. Krul stands up well to deny Cristaldo as the angle became tighter and tighter. That's the first real opportunity.
GOAL DISALLOWED! The linesman flags late for offside as Ameobi squares the ball for Cisse to tap into an empty net. Newcastle sprang the trap and replays showed that Sissoko was onside.
SAVE! Krul denies Xavier! The Brazilian ghosted into the box and got his head to a cross, forcing the Dutchman to react quickly. Excellent stop!
CHANCE! Cabaye releases Cisse with a wonderful first-time ball, but Goryainov keeps his shot out! Cisse seemed to get the ball caught under his feet slightly as he was about to pull the trigger.
BOOKING! Cabaye joins Tiote in the book for an elbow on Cristaldo. The Ivorian saw yellow for a late challenge on Marlos.
There have been chances at both ends, but Newcastle should be leading through Cisse. He was unfortunate to see that goal disallowed.
SHOT! Xavier has a dip from distance, but Krul gathers it in his arms.
CHANCE! Brilliant play by Marlos until the end! The Brazilian dropped the should before showing explosive acceleration to get away from Santon. However, his shot went into the side netting.
CLOSE! Cabaye hangs a free kick up for Taylor at the back post, but he can't get a clean connection on it. The ball ping-pongs around the area, with Ameobi nearly toe-poking it into the net. But the referee blows up for a free kick for Metalist.
SHOT! This Marlos is a player. He has skill and vision in abundance. This time he rolls in Sosa, but the shot is wayward.
We will have one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
HALF TIME: Newcastle 0-0 Metalist
No goals, but plenty of chances. After a slow start, the game got going after the 15-minute mark. Newcastle can count themselves unlucky not to be leading after seeing Cisse's goal disallowed for offside, when Sissoko was actually a couple of yards on.
Metalist have a distinct attacking threat in Bonfim Marlos and Ribeiro Cleiton Xavier in particular. Krul was alert to stop the latter from a header, while Marlos has pulled the strings playing in the hole.
The stats very much reflect the game. Newcastle have had four shots with two on target, while Metalist have had one less shot but the same amount on target. They've also shaded possession with 51%.
This could go either way. Newcastle have certainly got their work cut out, as Everton did back in 2007. An away goal for Metalist would be crucial.
The players are making their way back onto the pitch for the second half.
Just quickly, we also have coverage of Tottenham Hotspur's clash with Lyon at White Hart Lane. Gareth Bale has given the hosts the lead, and Sports Mole's own Joe Fish is on that one. You can follow it here.
Anyway, Newcastle have kicked off for the second half at St James' Park.
CLOSE! Marlos delivers a wonderful corner which Fininho gets his head to. Krul watches on helplessly as he's wrong footed, but the ball just drifts wide of the post.
Gutierrez tries to deliver a cross into the box, but it's an exceedingly poor one. He doesn't even come close to picking out a striped shirt.
Sissoko bursts out of midfield and plays in Santon down the left. The full-back's cross is just behind the front line and Metalist manage to clear the danger. Good play from Sissoko.
GOAL UPDATE! Samuel Umtiti has equalised for Lyon at White Hart Lane. Follow that game here.
SHOT! Gutierrez tries his luck from some distance, but Goryainov sees it wide.
NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION: Sylvain Marveaux comes on to replace Gabriel Obertan.
St James' Park is in full voice, but the game has died a little in the last 10 minutes or so.
The travelling support are making as much noise as the home fans, in truth. Good atmosphere.
Marveaux tries to make something happen but runs into the brick wall that has been Torsiglieri.
CHANCE! Santon gets down the left and pulls the ball back for Cisse, who is free in the area and running onto it with his left foot. However, Goryainov beats out his effort to keep his team on level terms. Big chance that, should have done far better.
METALIST SUBSTITUTION: Marlos makes way for Willian.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Cisse has another goal ruled out for offside! Willian's slip allowed Yanga-Mbiwa to cross for the Senegal striker, who flicked the ball beyond Goryainov. Replays showed that he was on line with the last defender, if not fractionally off. But you expect the benefit to be given to the striker, because that was tight.
Marveaux clips a ball into Cisse, who tries to take the ball down on his chest but he is just stretching too much for it and the ball runs away from him.
NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTION: Shola Ameobi comes on for Cheick Tiote.
BOOKING Sissoko joins Cabaye and Tiote in the referee's notebook for a challenge on Torsiglieri.
METALIST SUBSTITUTION: Jonathan Cristaldo makes way for Jaja.
BOOKING! Cynical drag back on Jaja by Gutierrez, just as the Brazilian was bursting through the Newcastle ranks.
BOOKING! Willian goes down inside the area claiming that he's been felled by Gutierrez, but the referee was perfectly placed to see his blatant dive.
BOOKING! Torres become the latest player to be shown a yellow card. A bit of indiscipline late on at St James'.
SAVE! Glorious chance for Cisse! Newcastle are probing late on as Metalist tire, and flood the penalty box with striped shirts. Cabaye clips a ball towards Cisse, who launches himself with a diving header, only for Goryainov to make another great stop!
FULL TIME: Newcastle United 0-0 Metalist Kharkiv
