Newcastle United Under-21s' EFL Trophy hopes are in tatters after a defeat against League One Crewe Alexandra.
Although, they put in an improved performance in their second group game of the season in Cheshire against David Artell's side.
The young Magpies went into the Group C game knowing they needed a positive result to stay in the competition after a 3-0 reverse at Shrewsbury Town last week.
United created a chance on 10 minutes when Elliot Anderson played in Yannick Toure but his shot was blocked by Crewe's Dave Richards.
Anderson has impressed Steve Bruce behind the scenes and won a call-up to the first-team squad for the game at Newport County in the League Cup, but he could not keep Newcastle in the EFL Trophy.
Eighteen-year-old keeper Will Brown then made a good save to deny Tom Lowery and keep the scores level on 14 minutes.
Crewe piled on the pressure for a spell after that but could not convert in the opening quarter.
A Jack Young corner fell for Nathan Carlyon but his 25-yard effort was over the top for Newcastle.
Just before the break, the ball fell for Offrande Zanzala in the box but a block from Lucas Gamblin denied the home side.
United - who beat Crewe in this competition in 2017 - went in level at the break with the League One side.
Former Cardiff keeper Richards then made another save on 51 minutes to deny Stan Flaherty after Rosaire Longelo's cross.
Toon coach Chris Hogg made his first change of the night when he swapped Dylan Stephenson for Welsh youth international Ryan Barrett on the hour.
Moments later, Barrett got straight into the action and set up Young but his effort went over the bar.
On 65 minutes, United conceded a free-kick on the right-wing and it proved to be a key moment in the match.
Indeed, Harry Pickering stepped up and whipped the ball past Brown to open the scoring.
A double change followed as Elias Sorensen and promising Scottish youngster Reagan Thomson were sent on for Toure and Anderson with 23 minutes left.
Sorensen had an early chance for himself when Ludwig Francillette slipped him in but his shot was blocked.
Barrett whipped in the ball for Sorensen with 15 minutes left but his effort rolled wide.
The Danish striker then had another chance with four minutes remaining, with Crewe down to 10 men because of an injury, but after Young's cross he sent an effort flying over the top from close range.
Newcastle were handed seven minutes of stoppage time to save themselves but despite a gutsy effort from the young Toon side they couldn't find a way past the goalkeeper.
Their EFL Trophy exit will be rubber-stamped if Shrewsbury beat Bolton Wanderers on October 6.
UNITED: Brown, Cass, Francillette, Gamblin, Longelo, Young, Carlyon, Stephenson (Barrett 59), Anderson (Thomson 67), Flaherty, Toure (Sorensen 67).
