It's not often that we're lost for words, but.....

For this to happen, to happen against these and to happen against these here is justifiable cause for celebration, but for this victory have come at this point in the season almost defies credibility.

We've bid a hearty two-fingered farewell to December on more occasions than we can remember, following a succession of non-performances and miserable return journeys - often from Gallowgate. 

Not since 2014 have Newcastle fans celebrated a year-ending win in the top flight, but it's fair to say that those present here tonight and tuning in across the planet made it up for lost time at 9.51pm. 

Balanced against the league table, form table and betting odds all favouring Eddie Howe's side was the indisputable and oft-proven fact that this was us, here, against this lot. More doom bar than Trafford Bar.

Never mind that Liverpool, Spurs, Forest and Bournemouth had already waltzed out of here with three points, we were fighting black and white demons in addition to Red Devils.

An unimaginably glorious opening passage of play by the Magpies left the illustrious hosts with their shorts around their ankles, utterly bewildered at what was unfolding around them. 

It was two, but four or five wouldn't have been any sort of injustice against an embarrassingly poor side who for whom Joshua Zirkzee was hauled off with just 33 minutes played - that humiliation the first time that home fans had been heard all night as they jeered Dan Ashworth's protégé.

The Dutch forward sloped off down the tunnel, only to be hauled back to the bench as the delicious disintegration of the Red Devils played out in public yet again.

Another early goal for an unchanged line-up had seen Isak head home after just four minutes, after Lewis Hall's slightly deflected cross found him unmarked in front of the Stretford End goal.

Isak then strode forward only to continue his recent spate of misfiring when in a one on one situation, spooning the ball into the arms of Andre Onana.

However the lead was doubled on 19 minutes; Joelinton getting on the end of Anthony Gordon's centre from the left and finishing from similar range to Isak.

Isak fired another into the net that was ruled out before Sandro Tonali hit a post to conclude a spellbinding move that saw Newcastle players exchange passes with ease around the area. The bombardment also saw Hall not far away with his attempt at a third goal here in three games.

A belated response from the hosts saw Rasmus Hojlund fire wide of Martin Dubravka's goal before a moment of brain freeze from Fabian Schar saw him gift the ball to Casemiro, who similarly shot past Dubravka's far post. A goal then making it 2-1 at the interval would have been gut-wrenching.

The second half started in similar fashion and Harry Maguire headed against the post as things got a little nervy for the United wearing stripes - especially those looking on who recalled our holding and then surrendering a 2-0 interval lead here back in 2018.....

Having survived that and replaced the ailing Kieran Trippier with Tino Livramento, Newcastle regained their earlier composure and retained possession better, discouraging any comeback notions.

There was one more moment of alarm when substitute Leny Yoro headed a corner narrowly wide in the 74th minute but the remainder of the game passed off without incident as the three points and clean sheet were made safe.

A fourth successive win and clean sheet in the Premier League and only a second league victory at Old Trafford in 30 visits saw Newcastle regain fifth spot, an excellent end to a month that began with them languishing in tenth and surrounded by doubt.

"We haven't changed our attacking philosophy in any way" said an unhappy Howe a month ago, after his side stuttered to a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. 

21 goals and seven games later, that philosophy remains intact, aided by some enlightened collective defending that has a made a virtue of picking a goalkeeper who was a liability here last season. 

Happy new year!

Biffa