Argyle will be thankful to French goalkeeper and club stalwart Romain Larrieu for keeping them in the tie with top-drawer saves at the end of each half.
Mariner admitted: "I am pleased that we are still in the competition because it is, in my opinion, the best domestic cup competition there is.
"A few weeks ago no-one would have backed us at home to the Championship leaders but at the moment it is all about progression for us at this club and that's now three games unbeaten, which is progress in my books.
"We are still in the competition, in the draw for the fourth round and have a trip to St James' Park in the cup to look forward to - and that's what we will be doing."
Magpies boss Hughton was philosophical about the draw, which his side edged on chances.
Hughton said: "We are still in the hat, which is what counts, and will be in the fourth-round draw, which is important because it's a competition that we want to do well in.
"I felt we were a little bit unlucky and I felt that if there was one side that was going to win the tie it was going to be us.
"There were long periods in the game where we dominated and perhaps just lacked a little bit of guile or fortune in the final third that would have seen us score a goal on a very difficult pitch and overall I thought we were the better side."
Comments courtesy of Sporting Life.