Linfield paraded new £20,000 striker Kevin McHugh before kick-off — then must have wished he had been playing! The Blues enjoyed so much possession yet had only one goal to show for their efforts.

Manager David Jeffrey will be hoping all that will change now that the former Finn Harps and Derry City ace is on board.

McHugh is expected to make his debut against Cliftonville in the re-arranged league game at Windsor Park on Tuesday night.

And Jeffrey could have another hitman on board because Mark McAllister’s arrival is imminent following further talks with Dungannon Swifts.

But as Jeffrey reflects on another two points lost which sees cross town rivals Glentoran back on top of the JJB Sports Premiership, DJ admitted: “To say I’m frustrated is an understatement.

“We had so much possession, hit the bar three times and conceded an awful goal.

“We were the better side on the day but credit to Newry who fought their eye strings out.

“They came into the game in an awkward situation but gave it their all.”

Despite his frustrations and the fact that Glentoran are back on top, Jeffrey remains upbeat and is still confident Linfield can retain the title.

Asked the question Jeffrey declared: “Of that I have no doubt whatsoever.”

It could have been worse for Linfield because while Michael Carvill eventually equalised Aidan O’Kane’s own goal which put Newry ahead, the visitors had last gasp chances to win the game.

City boss Gerry Flynn insisted: “Based on chances it was probably a fair result.

“They hit the bar three times but we had two great chances to wrap up all three points and in our position they would have been welcome.”

Newry were first to threaten but Stephen Garrett who left Linfield to get more pitch time wasted a great chance to break the deadlock.

In fact Garrett had two bites at the cherry but after he scuffed his first attempt his second was no better and Alan Mannus was able to smother.

And as play ebbed and flowed Paul Murphy came to Newry’s rescue when he blocked Munster’s effort with his legs.

John Martin attempted to find Munster when he might have shot as Newry survived another attack and then Munster knocked the ball into the path of Martin but he fired over the top.

Munster was booked for deliberate hands and the visitors, with a stiff wind in their backs, stormed forward to take the lead.

Full-back Ross Black delivered the perfect cross and the hapless Aidan O’Kane got himself into such a tangle that he could only manage to turn the ball into his own net.

Michael Collins and Munster were having a feisty contest and the Linfield man was lucky not to pick up a second yellow for a harsh tackle on his marker.

Mulgrew teed up Munster but he stumbled just as he went to pull the trigger and then a Martin header from Jamie Mulgrew’s corner came back off Paul Murphy’s crossbar.

Youngster Thomas Lambe rattled the Newry bar as well and, while the rebound fell kindly for Munster, he couldn’t put it away either, his effort also hitting the woodwork.

But Munster’s blushes were saved by a linesman’s flag signalling the home striker was offside.

Lambe had two chances to level the scores with the second half just minutes old.

But on both occasions he fired over the top although his second effort, a vicious dipper, must have given Murphy a fright.

Two substitutions — Robert Garrett for Conor Hagan and Aaron Burns for Lambe — made a difference and with Linfield pounding Newry an equaliser was inevitable.

And it duly arrived in the 78th minute with little Michael Carvill getting his

head to a bouncing ball from Robert Garrett.

It was now a question of whether the Blues, now in complete command, could grab a winner but they failed.

In fact Newry had two glorious late chances to end their dismal run of defeats but former Blueman Stephen Garrett missed both.

First he lobbed over the bar in a one-to-one situation with Mannus and then almost on the blow his shot was deflected for a corner after Richard Clarke stumbled when in the clear.