BURNLEY’S winless run in the Premier League was stretched to eight games but they departed St James’ Park clutching a point that would have felt like all three.

It had been a frustrating day for Sean Dyche, who had been denied in attempts to add to his squad on deadline day.

With Steven Defour and James Tarkowski set for spells of varying lengths on the sidelines Burnley are being stripped to the bare bones at the moment.

But they showed oodles of character and resolve at St James’ Park to snatch a crucial point with an equaliser with five minutes of normal time remaining to ensure it wasn’t a day of complete disappointment.

These two teams had had little luck from officials so far this term, with neither being awarded a penalty before the game.

That was a run that should have ended for both sides, but while Newcastle were correctly awarded a spot-kick - which Nick Pope saved - Burnley were denied a clear one of their own.

Now only the Clarets and Swansea City remain as Premier League teams to have not been awarded a spot kick.

But had Newcastle held on to the lead handed to them by Jamaal Lascelles the Clarets could have had few complaints.

Instead they got a stroke of luck they had most definitely earned, when a header from Sam Vokes - a 70th minute replacement for Ashley Westwood - hit Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow and rebounded into the net in the closing stages as Burnley finally managed to exert some pressure on the hosts’ goal.

The Clarets saw very little of the ball in the early stages as Newcastle started brightly, with Ciaran Clark heading over from a Kenedy corner inside the first 15 minutes.

New boy Kenedy was heavily involved early on and he stepped inside on his left-foot and curled a 22-yard shot against the post, with Christian Atsu only able to force the follow-up straight at Pope.

Burnley began to show signs of life midway through the half with a passage of play that brought a glorious chance, a penalty appeal and a disallowed goal in the space of 30 seconds.

Kevin Long failed to make clear contact with Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross but as the ball was sent back into the box Jack Cork fell under Paul Dummett’s challenge, with the defender slipping on the greasy surface before moving into the midfielder’s path. That appeal was waved away before Ashley Barnes was then adjudged to have pushed Lascelles before finding the back of the net, although there was little contact.

Pope came to Burnley’s rescue 10 minutes before the break. Phil Bardsley’s rash tackle brought down Chelsea loanee Kenedy on the very edge of the area, but Pope bailed his right-back out, diving to his left to save Joselu’s effort from the spot.

Pope had a more routine save to make when he tipped over a Clark header as he again got on the end of a Kenedy cross.

Barnes had been a handful for Newcastle’s defence to deal with but he should have done better with an early second half chance, shooting over from 12 yards after Jeff Hendrick had flicked a Charlie Taylor throw into his path.

Burnley’s attacks had been sporadic rather than any concerted pressure on the Newcastle goal, but the travelling Clarets high up in St James’ Park were given their first glimpse of Aaron Lennon on the hour mark, with the winger replacing Scott Arfield to try and provide the visitors with a spark.

But it was the hosts who found the breakthrough. Kenedy’s corner was glanced home at the near post by Lascelles, who had got a run on his marker Long.

Joselu dragged a shot just wide as Newcastle looked to double their advantage and they were punished for not doing so with five minutes to go.

Lennon forced a near post save from Darlow and from the corner Burnley pounced.

Cork’s delivery was flicked goalwards by Vokes and although Darlow managed to turn it onto the bar the rebound came back at him and ended up in the back of the net.

They all count and Burnley were due a stroke of luck.