Newcastle boss Roeder has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks as his side slumped into the Premiership relegation zone and they were fortunate to escape with a point after being outplayed by City for much of the match.

Roeder's side remain in the bottom three and are now without a win in eight Premiership games and have failed to score in their last four league outings.

City's impressive unbeaten home record remains intact and they have yet to concede a league goal at Eastlands this season.

Tunisia defender Hatem Trabelsi fired in a long-range effort in the opening moments as City tried to take control against tentative opponents.

Stuart Pearce's side enjoyed the majority of the possession as Newcastle sat back but the hosts were mainly restricted to hopeful long shots.

Claudio Reyna and Darius Vassell both tried their luck from distance but neither forced Harper into action.

City defender Micah Richards was celebrating his first call-up to the England squad for next week's friendly in Holland and presented an imposing barrier to Newcastle's sporadic attacks.

Joey Barton came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval. Trabelsi flicked on Nicky Weaver's goal kick and City midfielder Barton hit a well-struck volley that forced Steve Harper to make a fine stop.

The visitors' only threat to the City goal came when James Milner whipped in a low cross and Shola Ameobi narrowly failed to connect from six yards out.

Paul Dickov should have given City the lead soon after half-time when he was played onside by Newcastle defender Steve Carr.

But the Scottish striker's low side-footed effort was pushed away by Harper as he plunged to his left.

Roeder sent on England midfielder Kieron Dyer for his first Premiership appearance this season in an attempt to add more energy to his side.

Pearce responded by replacing Dickov and Reyna with strikers Bernardo Corradi and Georgios Samaras.

The move almost paid instant dividends as Corradi charged onto Barton's free-kick with a header that Harper stopped well.

Corradi had two more chances to give City the goal their domination deserved but the Italian headed wide and then saw his shot from Vassell's cross blocked by Harper.

City thought they had made the breakthrough in the 69th minute when Georgios Samaras headed home from close range after Richard Dunne had nodded on a corner, but the goal was immediately disallowed for a push.

Dyer could have stolen all three points in the final minutes but he was denied by Weaver after a fine run into the City penalty area gave him a sight of goal.