Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admits they weren't at their best for the 1-1 draw with Everton.
Alexander Isak struck the opener for the Magpies, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin finding an equaliser from the spot on 88 minutes for the Blues.
Howe said: "Saying that I thought the players were flat out and gave everything. It was a decent performance but we needed a second goal. We were on the end of two tight decisions.
"It was players grappling each other. It was one of those that could have gone either way.
"Bar that penalty we go on to win that game. It would have been a tight win but a deserved one.
"Alexander Isak is an outstanding technician. He will probably rue the missed one but with attacking players you have to be in the position to score and he looks like he will score every game at the moment."
On the penalty, Howe added: "It was one of those. At that stage we were just hoping to see the game out. Paul [Dummett] is an experienced player and unfortunately it was his arm and whether it brushed against Ashley [Young] that went against us. Both were grappling.
"I felt the second goal was important, we were close to getting it until VAR stopped that one. Against any team you want the comfort of the second goal but unfortunately we didn't get it."
