A season of peaks and troughs regained an upward trajectory on Saturday, as a chastened Newcastle side climbed out of the bottom three after a nervy but priceless home victory.

Their dominance could and should have resulted in an emphatic success, but an all-too-rare Aleksandar Mitrovic strike ultimately divided the sides - the Serbian's fifth of the season coming just after the half hour mark of a game United thoroughly bossed but just couldn't make safe.

Mitrovic ran on to Jonjo Shelvey's pass and tucked a shot past Ben Foster at the Leazes End to bring instant relief to a crowd who were still reeling from seeing a rasping drive from Cheick Tiote chalked off in similar fashion to his effort in the same goal against Manchester City in 2014.

Under pressure to provide both a display and result following Wednesday's capitulation at Everton, Steve McClaren was forced into reshaping his defence by Paul Dummett and Chancel Mbemba's absence plus a one match ban for Jamaal Lascelles. With Jack Colback also unavailable, Rolando Aarons retained his place at left back and there was a first outing for Steven Taylor in six months.

In truth though, almost any defensive line-up would have been untroubled by an abysmal Albion display similar to our own toothless showing at Goodison. Bizarrely touted for the Newcastle job by a national newspaper, the negative tactics of Tony Pulis in playing Victor Anichebe as a lone forward prompted the travelling support to give their own verdict: "sh*t football my lord, sh*t football"... 

The half time introduction of a portly Saido Berahino made no difference, raising questions as to whether this really was the same bloke we bid ££££ for just last week. However, the Albion striker almost made his mark at St. James' Park in the closing moments, ghosting into a shooting position inside the area as fellow substitute Salomon Rondon advanced down the right flank. 

Thankfully though, his poor pass to Berahino was intercepted by Daryl Janmaat, ending any hopes Albion had of sneaking an underserved point and preserving under-used Rob Elliot's clean sheet.

United looked lively from the off in similar fashion to their last home game against West Ham, barely a minute played when Gini Wijnaldum chested the ball down in the box almost creating a shooting chance.

Home debutant Townsend had a curling shot saved soon later, before a golden chance for Mitrovic to open the scoring went begging when he blasted a snap shot off Foster from barely a yard away.

Jonjo Shelvey's effort from distance was saved by Foster before Janmaat's blocked shot fell into the path of Tiote - who let fly from outside the box so quickly that none of the crowd had time to encourage him. 

That flew past Foster and saw the delighted Ivorian celebrate in front of the home dugout - only for it quickly to become apparent that protests from the visiting players saw referee Lee Mason consult the linesman patrolling the East Stand touchline.

After a short pause, Tiote's "goal" was duly disallowed due to the presence of Mitrovic in the box, standing well offside and in the eyeline of the goalkeeper. Thankfully though better was to come.

Minutes later United went ahead when Shelvey's perfect ball put Mitrovic in on goal and when Foster charged out, the striker stroked the ball home to relieve the pressure on him and his colleagues.

Townsend almost capped an industrious home debut with a second half goal, but his curling shot hit the Gallowgate goalpost and rebounded to safety. Wijnaldum headed over the bar, Mitrovic found Foster with a header when unmarked and he, Moussa Sissoko and Shelvey all went close but couldn't score that vital second goal to relieve the increasing tension. 

An anxious added six minutes was endured (in part due to Elliot's continual time-wasting) before the whistle blew and United recorded back-to-back home wins for the first time since December 2014.

Warming up on the touchline to no avail was new boy Saydou Doumbia, who had expected to come on but saw Ayoze Perez preferred as United failed to add to their single goal advantage. He was stripped and ready to come on in added time but was told to sit back down.

Also named on the bench for the first time due to the unavailability of a dozen first team players were U21 trio Dan Barlaser, Callum Williams and Liam Gibson - whose call-ups came too late to be included in the squad printed in the matchday programme.

Tayor, Tiote, Aarons, Janmaat, Mitrovic and Townsend all put in decent shifts in a much-improved all-round display. Our upturn was aided by Albions' lack of fight, save for the habitual nastiness of abused ex-mackems James McLean and Craig Gardner plus pantomime villain, Jonas Olsson.

If the race to survive comes down to goal difference and we perish though, this game will be exhibit A in terms of missed chances. More positively, a much-needed semblance of home form is finally emerging - three wins, two draws and just one loss in our last six. Lord knows we need it. 

The danger though remains that we allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security and stroll out at Stamford Bridge next Saturday believing the hype and that somehow the job is done. Hopefully the penny has finally and belatedly dropped for all concerned.

This wasn't a complete performance, just an improved one aided by the bloody awful opposition. Hanging on for a win in the 96th minute shouldn't be cause for much celebration - only relief.  

The win took United up a place to 17th, swapping places with a Norwich side who lost their fifth successive league game when going down at Aston Villa. The Canaries join Villa and the mackems in the drop zone, while we gained ground on a Swansea side who drew -  but are now unbeaten in four games - and Bournemouth, beaten 0-2 by Arsenal on Sunday.

Tumbling towards the trapdoor though are Albion themselves, without a win in five league games and a banana skin of an FA Cup tie at Peterborough to face. The more the merrier - and that includes England's manager in waiting at Palace, now winless in eight. 

Biffa

PS - Sadly missing from his seat in the East Stand today after passing away on Friday was Murray Thompson, a staunch Magpie follower across eight decades since first visiting SJP in the 1940s.

A season ticket holder, Murray was also a regular in the Labour Club before and after matches. Our condolences go to son Neale, family and friends.