Sydney FC has failed yet again to hang onto a lead, left clinging to its place in the A-League's top four after a 1-1 draw with the Newcastle Jets.

Sydney striker David Zdrilic opened the scoring in the 14th minute, but for the sixth time this season the defending champions were unable to sustain their advantage.

Newcastle midfielder Tim Brown salvaged a point for the home side with a well-taken goal in the 86th minute.

Facing his first defeat in charge of the Jets, coach Gary van Egmond introduced Brown for Paul Kohler in the 72nd minute.

Newcastle captain Paul Okon split the Sydney defence with a clever pass and Brown burst into the penalty box to collect the ball, smashing it into the far corner of the net from a tight angle.

Sydney survived an injury crisis, which left them to contest the match with a squad of only 13 players, but face further problems after defender Matthew Bingley was sent off in the 91st minute for a second bookable offence.

He will now have to serve a one-match suspension.

Coach Terry Butcher was forced to use Justin Pasfield as reserve goalkeeper and out-field substitute, but an injury-free performance saved the Englishman from having to play the 21-year-old.

The visitors shrugged off their injury woes and speculation over Butcher's future to play with confidence and skill early on.

They made the breakthrough after midfielder Ufuk Talay picked out Zdrilic in the box with a long pass.

Talay's brilliant vision and a static Newcastle defence combined to create an opening.

Zdrilic found space between defenders Okon and Steve Eagleton and calmly clipped a shot past Newcastle goalkeeper Ben Kennedy to find the net.

The Jets struggled to reach the heights of recent weeks but fought hard to find an equaliser.

Joel Griffiths, in good form for the Jets, hit the post in the 75th minute after a superb piece of individual skill.

Then Brown stepped up to keep his coaches unbeaten run intact.

Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton wore the captain's armband with Mark Rudan and his deputy Steve Corica ruled out of the match.

Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond said his said showed character to come from behind and grab a point.

"The first half, I thought they were the better team, but in the second half we dominated," he said.

Van Egmond was pleased to extend his side's unbeaten run to four matches, but had felt the match slipping away.

He also praised Brown, the New Zealand international, who struck his side's equaliser.

"Tim is a on short-term contract with us and has been doing well at training. He's fitted right in with the boys and is the type of player we want at Newcastle."

Despite the late leveller, van Egmond said there was "quite a bit of disappointment in the dressing room, which is a good sign for me as a coach".

Sydney coach Terry Butcher said he was delighted with his side's gritty performance.

"I thought the lads did tremendously," Butcher said.

"The lads knew they had to play the whole 90 minutes and they worked their socks off.

"They showed a lot of character today. People have questioned the spirit, determination and hunger of the side, but I thought that all came through tonight.

"Newcastle are a good side; its a difficult place to come to.

"I saw one of the banners about us being butchered and I thought that was quite unique."

He said his side showed mental and physical toughness during the match.

"We feel bitterly disappointed that we haven't got the three points and I'm sure Newcastle will feel the same, so perhaps a draw was a fair result."

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