27 mins: Tim Howard scuffed a clearance that fell straight to Ambrose. Ameobi did his best to get in the way but Ambrose jinked into the box and tucked the ball past the advancing 'keeper at the Stretford end. 1-0

Half time: Man United 0 Newcastle 1

57mins: A long punt forward by Keane was headed back infield by Ramage and before the ball hit the ground, Rooney hit a spectacular 25-yard volley into the roof of the net - Shay didn't even get close to it. 1-1

75mins: A corner from the left was met by the head of Brown as Ameobi put in a half-hearted challenge. 1-2

Full time: Man United 2 Newcastle 1

Graeme Souness said:

"I have not had that many chances this season but when I have I feel as though I have done OK. We still have five games left and my immediate aim is to play in as many of them as I can." 

There are two ways of looking at this defeat - in the context of a losing streak that now extends to five consecutive away games in all competitions, or in isolation.

Taking the latter option, this loss by the odd goal in three doesn't seem nearly as bad, coming as it did amidst a climate of fear in black and white quarters that we would end up on the wrong end of a scoreline more associated with the cricket ground just across the street from Old Trafford.

But while we can curse our ill luck at meeting a Manchester United side whose premature hibernation was only disrupted by the second unstoppable strike in as many games, the fact remains that we took the lead once again and failed to win, for the 13th time in the league this season.

And while we would have celebrated like loons had either of them netted, it was a shame that Kluivert and Robert were used at all in this game, their shabby ambling attempts at getting involved taking the shine off a gutsy and industrious performance that probably warranted a point.

As at Norwich, for the majority of this game we played some good football, keeping our shape and showing a decent work ethic and desire to play as a team - in stark contrast to some other games in recent times. If nothing else, this was an honest performance.

However there's no getting away from the truth of the matter - while inexperienced players such as Ramage and N'Zogbia gave a decent account of themselves, we were ultimately found wanting at both ends of the field.

Had we been battered here, we could have used the fact that Carr was an emergency midfielder, Ramage was playing in an alien position and we had a full team of players sidelined by dint of being incapable, ineligible or unwilling to play their part.

But losing narrowly, we're left to reflect that experienced players undermined our efforts - yet another headed goal conceded pointing to slackness in marking amongst first choice players and a depressingly barren afternoon for the number nine, who looked weary as he led the line single-handedly and received little in the way of help from Milner or Ameobi.

In the context of the game and our resources that's perhaps hard criticism, but until the Premiership adopt the New Faces scoring system, we only get points for winning and drawing, not for effort, application or star quality.

Today we were almost at the stage of being labelled plucky - like those other teams at the wrong end of the table are when they conjure up a good performance. This was better than the last few 90 minute disasters, but only comparatively.

We got battered at Cardiff and lost - in this rematch we competed on a more equal basis, but still lost. Like the youth policy of Ardiles in the early 1990s, people applauded his effort and endeavour, but the results didn't come and he was shown the door. 

And so the defeated Newcastle players left the field to another hearty round of applause from supporters who had backed them from first whistle to last, as the opposition followers sat on their hands and buttoned their lips.

It's important to remember though that many of those away fans would be here regardless of what league we were playing in. The number of spare season tickets suddenly available for the Boro and Palace home games is a reminder that not everyone is as forgiving - the atmosphere would be decidedly more hysterical, had we been losing these games on home soil.   

Better Newcastle sides than this have been outplayed and beaten out of sight on this ground - neither of which happened to us today. The team that picked itself repaid Souness by putting in a committed and whole-hearted display and that's at least something to cling on to, as we scan the horizon for the promised rescuers.

We've endured possibly the most morale-sapping, downright depressing three weeks on the road, with disappointments on five foreign fields. Now comes the opportunity to start putting things right with two home fixtures in quick succession. 

Fans and players alike have to believe that things will improve and our luck will change - anything else simply doesn't bear thinking about.

Biffa

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