27 mins Some neat interplay in midfield by the visitors eventually saw Wayne Rooney lay the ball out wide to Calvert-Lewin whose cross into the middle was headed goalwards by Aaaron Lennon. 

It should have been a comfortable save for Darlow but he spilled the ball to his right and was then slow to get across to gather it ahead of Rooney who slid the ball into the Leazes net.  0-1

Half time: Magpies 0 Toffees 1

Full time: Magpies 0 Toffees 1

Rafa Benitez:
 

"One day it’s one thing, another day it’s another.

"We have individual errors that are costing us points.

"We have changed the team, the shape and players - and still we are losing so we have to take responsibility, starting with me and that’s it.

"I have the same feeling that all the fans have. 

"The team started the game well and had chances, we were on top and had the game under control, then we made a mistake.

"The way they were wasting time makes it even more difficult in this situation. We hit the crossbar and the post, we were unlucky, but still we are making mistakes that are costing us points.

"The only thing you can take as a positive is our approach in the game and the performance of the players in the first half.

"The negatives are the final result. It’s difficult to accept and understand. 

"We have to make sure the players aren’t down for too long because we must get ready for the next game.”

Asked about the possible takeover:

"I don't have any information. As I said the other day, I need to know how much money we will have for January as soon as possible, that's it.

"But I don't have information about the takeover."

Sam Allardyce said:

"I'm pleased for the main, but there's obviously room for improvement. We played on Sunday, they played on Saturday, so we didn't have as much recovery time. But with a couple of adjustments here and there, we're rolling on.

"It's another goal for Wayne. After a bit of an iffy start, we played our way into the game and played well, using the ball a lot better. I'd have to say the goal was a terrific move. There was a one-two with a flick around the corner and then played down the side.

"I felt Newcastle's chances were a couple of great strikes from long distance so we limited them to few chances and that gives you a platform to go up the other end and get three points.

"It was an exceptionally good performance on the basis that we're perhaps running on empty after playing on Sunday with the effort we put in.

"The defence have done a fantastic job and that has been the bedrock to our upturn in fortunes. We're heading in the right direction, in the top half of the table where we want to finish in May if we can."
 

The hot ticket this week may have been for the new Star Wars film, but the Wayne's World franchise showed no signs of ending its epic run in front of another full house at Gallowgate.

Losing to Leicester by the odd goal in five on Saturday had ramped up the pressure of the midweek visit of an Everton side without an away victory since January, but revitalising itself in recent weeks following the appointment of the fondly-remembered Sam Allardyce. 

Good beginnings had brought us early leads in a trio of recent games, but a bright start failed to put us ahead and instead we laid on a goal for the visitors. Karl Darlow's blunder was almost as much of an own goal as Ayoze's last time out, the goalkeeper spilling a Aaron Lennon header that lacked pace into the path of Wayne Rooney, who accepted the seasonal generosity and bundled the ball home for his usual goal against Newcastle. 

That the only goal came against the run of play added insult to injury; Everton uninterested in scoring a goal following our gift to Rooney, more used to torturing us from 20 yards than 20 inches. There again, they didn't have to - as our efforts to level waned considerably in the last half hour.,

Jonjo Shelvey's dismissal in the final seconds of the game summed up a night of frustration and stupidity as United lost again to make it just a solitary point gained from the last 24 on offer.

There was also a large chunk of misfortune for Toon duo Matt Ritchie and Mikel Merino, whose first half blockbusters either side of Rooney's goal both left ex-mackem goalkeeper Pickford rooted to the spot, only to then rebound off the inside of the posts at the Gallowgate end.

And when the atrocious Mo Diame somehow failed to connect with the ball in front of goal on 53 minutes, another barren night was in store for us. Diame was one of four changes Rafa made as he attempted to revitalise his side; Christian Atsu, Jamaal Lascelles and Jonjo Shelvey all recalled.

Dominating until going behind, there was a vague optimism that the second half would see a home revival strong enough to take at least a point, but sadly that proved to be completely misplaced.

Confidence, composure and competence ebbed away as the minutes ticked by and inevitable time- wasting tactics of the visitors worked, United unable to gain any initiative or momentum to stir the crowd from their slumbers.

Shelvey and Merino got in each other's way, while the extent of Dwight Gayle's service consisted of random forward hoofs from Florian Lejeune. 

Of particular frustration was the evident discomfort of visiting right back Jonjoe Kenny, prone to errors when slicing several first half clearances - but never pressurised after the resumption.   

Joselu, Rolando Aarons and Ayoze Perez were all introduced but barely touched the ball as United got ever more desperate in the final few minutes before being finally put out of their misery.

Shelvey's latest moment of madness then arrived at the end of of four added minutes: a totally unnecessary lunge on halfway with referee Martin Atkinson just about ready to blow for full time.

The inevitable second yellow card was greeted by anger and exasperation by home fans who had remained to the bitter end. If nothing else though, this latest incident can leave nobody in any doubt as to why Shelvey was omitted recently - further bone-headed behaviour underlining that he just cannot be trusted. 

Sadly though the rest of his colleagues looked no better by the end of this game: slow, weak and sub-standard in every department. 

Never mind the next win, it's difficult to see where the next point will come from at present. 

The increasing worry is that whatever transpires in the January transfer window - either as the result of a takeover or panic buying as happened in 2013 might come too late to save us.

"What was the point of going through 46 games last season for that?" said one disconsolate fan as he exited the ground - a reasonable question to ask.

Niall/Biffa