Steve McClaren (who chalked up back to back 0-0 draws here in the Premier League, after guiding his smoggy side to a nowts apiece back in May 2006. Boro won the return game 4-1.......):

 

They Said

Louis van Gaal commented:

"I think we can be satisfied about the performance but not about the result because we don’t reward ourselves. I think we have created a lot of chances and we were unlucky. I think you also need luck in football and it’s not only what you say about quality. I think the quality in the third phase in the crossing positions, we didn’t do so good, we didn’t make the right choices. 

"Also we can do better with the speed of the ball and, of course, we had open chances, alone with the goalkeeper, and we have to score there normally. But I think we were very unlucky. But we played fantastic as a team and we have fought until the end and that’s fantastic to see. I like this type of game, only the result was bad.

"It’s a fantastic start (for the defence) and I think, also against Brugge, not one chance and then an unlucky goal so I’m very pleased with the clean sheets. 

"As a fan, you have to see how we have played this match. The performance was good and the fans were always behind the players. It was a fantastic match to watch but we were unlucky. We have to score our chances and, in the next match, we shall score maybe a goal out of three chances and that is better. The performance today was better though. 

"My worry is that we have to dominate the opponent and we did it today, we did it against Aston Villa, Tottenham and Brugge. I am satisfied with the performance and not with the result and that is different. We were unlucky with rewarding ourselves because we have created a lot of chances.

"Wayne (Rooney) scored - only it was not allowed. It is doubtful and the rules are that when it is doubtful, then do not flag. But it is also football and I have said already many times you need more equipment to help the referees and linesmen because it is not easy.

"I don't enter in this discussions. You can ask about all the players in the world and you are doing that every press conference and I always say the same, I have to protect the interests of Manchester United, the players in my selection and the people in my organisation."

Former Red Devils favourite Paul Scholes weighed in with:

"He said 'fantastic' a few times but I don't think there was anything fantastic about it at all,' observed Scholes. 'At home to Newcastle you are expected to win the game. Their goalkeeper has had one save to make, and that is not fantastic.

"With the money the manager has been given, he needs to produce and needs to do it this season." 

Steve McClaren's return to Old Trafford proved to be an enjoyable one as his current side battled hard, rode their luck and took a point that could even have been three from the lunchtime game.

Despite the absence of both Moussa Sissoko and Daryl Janmaat, Newcastle posted a performance that was both convincing and committed -and virtually unrecognisable from their lack-lustre display at Swansea a week earlier when we had to check to see whether John Carver was in our dugout.

The confidence and organisation sadly missing at the Liberty Stadium was evident in all areas of the pitch here; the blue and white clad visitors ultimately ending the home side's 100% record this season and halting our horrendous run of seven straight away losses stretching back to February.

Having rather overcooked himself while waiting for a call from the bench in his first two games, there was a first start for Aleksandar Mitrovic who put in an excellent shift and provided a physical presence up front that has been lacking since Andy Carroll's departure.

The Serbian did got away with one reckless early challenge but was otherwise disciplined until the closing stages when fatigue prompted him to berate officials for ignoring apparent fouls on him. 

Chancel Mbemba meanwhile showed no sign of being overawed by his surroundings as he appeared at right back, while Gini Wijnaldum linked up well in midfield and Florian Thauvin came off the bench to show some good touches in his maiden outing. He crucially lost possession on a few occasions and allowed the home side to press on but thankfully nothing came of those.

The man of the match plaudits though went to a player who had made his own bow at this venue seven years ago and turned back the clock today with some well-timed interventions and assured work - welcome back Fabricio Coloccini (with a mention in dispatches for partner Steven Taylor).

In truth the Red Devils misfired and aside from an early effort rightly ruled offside, their main strike threat Wayne Rooney had little influence until dropping back deeper in the closing stages.

Newcastle's main focus was on containment and the statistics show that they failed to register a single effort on target. However Mitrovic did hit the crossbar with a fine 24th minute header from Mbemba's cross and Thauvin was just a long stud away from connecting with a Papiss Cisse cross cum shot after the visitors broke and were three on two in added time.

The Red Devils also hit the goalframe when Chris Smalling's header bounced back off the post in second half added time, Tim Krul deserving that piece of good fortune after earlier making vital blocks to preserve his first clean sheet of the campaign.

Inevitably the final 15 minutes saw Louis van Gaal's side pile on the pressure and Krul did well to deny substitute Hernandez while Steven Taylor got his frame in the way of a Rooney volley.

On a day of positives for our Head Coach, he also saw Ayoze Perez respond to his recall with an industrious display and Vurnon Anita play as well as he's ever done in almost 100 Newcastle appearances - hassling and harrying opponents with relish. Maybe McClaren's Dutch accent is more convincing than we gave him credit for.... 

Despite this slightly unexpected point, Newcastle dropped down a place to sixteenth and after Sunday's results sat just above the bottom three in seventeenth. The look on McClaren's face afterwards though confirmed that he'd won more than a point today. 

Margins remain very fine - and had the linesman's flag stayed down on 18 minutes then this could have been very painful. But if nothing else, Newcastle began to distance themselves from the disasters of last season and restore some pride and positive energy. It's a start.

Biffa