Wimbledon and Newcastle played out a grim, goalless draw last night which satisfied no one, least of all the 15,000 crowd. A win for either of these relegation-threatened sides would have taken them half way to salvation. As it is they are both left looking nervously over their shoulders.

Neither side, in truth, deserved the win. Newcastle must have looked back with some nostalgia to when they came to this ground earlier in the season as a top-half side, but since then they have won just twice in 18 games.

Last night Wimbledon were no better, although at least they know what will be required of them in their remaining games. They are well apprenticed to fight against relegation.

Newcastle made six changes following their 2-1 defeat at Southampton with John Barnes, Robert Lee and Keith Gillespie among the casualties. Even with the return of Gary Speed and Philippe Albert, this Newcastle side, in search of their first win at Wimbledon in 10 attempts, was largely anonymous.

Wimbledon seemed rather diffident about going for three anti-relegation points here, although in the seventh minute Carl Leaburn had a strong header well saved by Shay Given. The former Charlton striker Leaburn was contained with some comfort for the remainder of the first half in which midfielder Michael Hughes looked a more dangerous Wimbledon option.

In the 36th minute Hughes' dipping, left-foot shot from 25 yards bringing the best out of Given, the goalkeeper diving to his right to tip over the crossbar. Newcastle were also without the midfield drive of England's David Batty, who was serving the second game of his suspension. In an effort to bring more urgency to their game they introduced the former Wimbledon full-back Warren Barton in an attacking midfield role 10 minutes into the second half.

Wimbledon, beaten four times in their previous five games, struggled for coherent movement and midway through the second half they almost conceded a soft goal.

A weak back pass from Hughes did not appear to have enough weight to reach the goalkeeper and first Barton and then Alan Shearer went close to converting the half-chance. Newcastle almost caught out Wimbledon with a swift counter attack 10 minutes from time. Shearer swept the ball out to Temuri Ketsbaia on the left, out-sprinted the Wimbledon defence but sent his cross-cum-shot across the face of the goal with not a colleague in sight.

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Blackwell, Earle, Roberts, Gayle, Perry, M Hughes, Ardley, Leaburn. Subs Not Used: C Hughes, Heald, Clarke, Fear, Cort.

Newcastle: Given, Peacock (Barton 56), Shearer, Speed, Pearce, Ketsbaia, Watson, Hamilton, Albert, Dabizas, Griffin (Gillespie 88). Subs Not Used: Barnes, Srnicek, Andersson.

Referee: N S Barry (Scunthorpe).