TOON: Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Ryan Taylor (Pancrate 70), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ranger 78), Carroll (Ameobi 65). Subs Not Used: Krul, Guthrie, Butt, Kadar.
RAMS: Bywater, Connolly, Addison, Buxton, McEveley, Green, Savage, Hendrie (Commons 68), Pearson, Hulse, Campbell (Livermore 90). Subs Not Used: Deeney, Croft, Teale, Pringle, Dickov.
Att: 47,505
Ryan Taylor's 11th-minute free-kick and substitute Nile Ranger's late volley both rattled the crossbar, and the Magpies failed to make the most of the bulk of the possession ... particularly in the early part of the game
Chances went begging then we seemed to lose our way as the team became more and more frustrated and resorted to lofting the ball into the middle ... more through hope than expertise.
Derby had defender Jay McEveley sent off late on for a second bookable offence, but it was too late to make any difference.
At the other end, Steve Harper did well to keep out DJ Campbell's effort that could have turned this into a night to forget.
After surviving an early scare when Jose Enrique's slip allowed striker Campbell to run at the home defence, the Magpies might have been in front within two minutes.
Kevin Nolan's ball down the line was collected by Peter Lovenkrands, who picked out strike-partner Andy Carroll at the far post, but he directed his downward header well wide of the target.
Rams defender Jake Buxton steered a hurried fourth-minute clearance just wide of his own goal, and the visitors were spared only by the crossbar seven minutes later as Ryan Taylor's free-kick left Bywater rooted to the spot.
Carroll headed a 15th-minute Enrique cross wide and Lovenkrands volleyed across the face of goal seconds later with the home side dominating.
Bywater pulled off a vital one-on-one save to deny Ryan Taylor as he ran on to Jonas Gutierrez's superb reverse pass three minutes later, but opposite number Harper had to match his feat when Campbell turned Stephen Pearson's 25th-minute cross towards goal at the near post.
But for all Newcastle's pressure, they simply could not make the breakthrough and Derby somehow got to half-time on level terms.
The visitors started brightly after the break with skipper Robbie Savage firing over from distance with 49 minutes gone, and with Carroll getting little change out of central defender Miles Addison, the Magpies' efforts became increasingly laboured.
They might have gone ahead with 57 minutes gone when Carroll crossed for defender Steven Taylor, but he headed straight at Bywater.
The keeper got down well to keep out Alan Smith's long-range effort seconds later as Chris Hughton's men started to turn the screw once again, but too often, they were let down by wayward passes.
Hughton sent on Shola Ameobi for Carroll, whose battle with Addison had become increasingly physical, with 25 minutes remaining.
But it was fellow newcomer Ranger who went desperately close with three minutes remaining, volleying Nolan's cross against the underside of the bar only to see his shot bounce on the line and drop into Bywater's arms.