Melbourne City have squandered a huge chance to move back into the A-League Men top six, failing to put away a string of scoring chances in an ill-tempered 0-0 stalemate with Newcastle.
Under the temporary guidance of assistant Raffaele Napoli, with head coach Aurelio Vidmar out of action because of illness, City desperately needed three points against the languishing Jets at AAMI Park on Saturday.
But the home side missed out on what would have been a third straight win and remain seventh on the ladder.
Newcastle stay 11th, winless in nine matches in a streak dating back more than two months.
Jets goalkeeper Ryan Scott had a huge hand in the result, brilliantly denying Max Caputo's second-half volley at close range, before Steven Ugarkovic sent a follow-up shot wide with the gaping net at his mercy.
Scott again came to the rescue in the sixth minute of added time, tipping Jamie Maclaren's header over the bar.
The flashpoint in a fiery encounter came when City winger Leo Natel tangled with Callum Timmins and appeared to headbutt Kosta Grozos in the ensuing argument.
Natel was lucky to survive a review of the second-half incident, which sparked a melee between the sides that held up play for several minutes.
Napoli brought Socceroos attacker Mathew Leckie and former international Maclaren off the bench after the break, but neither could capitalise on City's dominance to find a match-winning goal.
It was Leckie's first appearance since February 24 because of soreness associated with earlier knee and hamstring injuries and then illness.
City's preparation was thrown out of whack when Vidmar was struck down by illness, but the home side still dominated proceedings without finding a breakthrough.
Ugarkovic, Caputo and Tolgay Arslan all missed first-half chances, while Scott and Jets teammate Mark Natta both had nervous moments when their defensive errors almost led to City goals.
City eventually had the ball in the net when Nuno Reis fired home during first-half stoppage time, only for VAR to rule out the strike for offside.
The chance came when Dane Ingham's cynical foul on Arslan earned the Jets defender a yellow card and gave the home side a free kick, which Arslan sent to the back post.
Reis gathered and squeezed a tame shot through disappointed 'keeper Scott for what momentarily looked like the opener.
City's best chance came when Marin Jakolis teed up a stinging Caputo volley that was saved by Scott, who celebrated wildly when Ugarkovic missed the follow-up.
The home side was also denied a penalty when Ugarkovic's ball into the box struck Phillip Cancar on the arm.
Newcastle midfielder Daniel Wilmering forced Jamie Young into a late diving save with a left-footed drive from long range, but it was one of few clear-cut chances for the visitors.
The Jets managed just three shots on target to City's nine.