Albion proved more than a match for their fellow promotion contenders and twice took the lead at St James' Park only to be pegged back to share the spoils - a similar story to when the two sides met on the opening day of the season in a 1-1 draw.
Whether Roberto Di Matteo opts to makes changes to the starting XI that lined up on Monday remains to be seen but the two-time cup winner is certainly taking the competition seriously.
Roman Bednar started as the lone man in attack but was replaced by Ishmael Miller just after the hour mark, and the fit-again striker will be hoping to get more minutes under his belt as a flurry of games approach.
Bednar was part of four changes for the Magpies clash as Di Matteo responded to the 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest, with Youssouf Mulumbu, Robert Koren and Marek Cech also coming in.
James Morrison (heel) is still the only man on the sidelines but he is looking to return before the end of the month, while Abdoulaye Meite remains on African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast following their progression into the quarter-finals.
