For the fourth time in seven days, VAR played a pivotal role in the outcome of a game involving Newcastle - and for the third time the verdict left Eddie Howe, his players and supporters angry and bewildered. 

The system may have belatedly righted an obvious wrong to deny Wolves their second goal at Molineux on Sunday, but only after a clear tug on the shirt of Sean Longstaff in that same game was ignored by the officials.

Technology - or a dubious line on a screen - then robbed United of a 2-0 lead at Anfield on Wednesday, not to mention an inability to use a watch.

An even more glaring miscarriage of justice here saw a perfectly valid Magpies goal chalked off by a dodgy VAR call and the inexplicable rubber-stamping of that decision by the match referee.

51 goalless minutes had passed when Kieran Trippier's free kick from the United right was headed back across the Leazes goal by Sven Botman.

Arriving near the back post, Joe Willock was shoved by visiting defender Tyrick Mitchell and as the Newcastle man collided with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, the ball bounced off the chest of Mitchell and into the goal.

As Willock and Guaita lay in the box requiring medical attention, it became apparent that the goal was being checked by VAR official for checking for a foul (our initial thoughts were that a harsh ruling was going to see a penalty awarded instead).

Mason's judgement call sent Michael Salisbury to the pitchside monitor and he unbelievably agreed that Willock was guilty and ruled out the goal. Those fans at that end of the ground were up in arms at the decision and a replay on the big screen above confirmed Mitchell to have been the villain of the piece, prompting a deafening chorus of boos.

To have the onfield official review footage that was unclear and then show an angle that was clear as day inside the ground is a catastrophic failure of a system that isn't getting refined. It's getting worse.

With neither Allan Saint-Maximin or Bruno Guimaraes risked, United's made two changes from the side beaten at Liverpool; Jamaal Lascelles and Dan Burn replaced by Fabian Schar and Botman.

Making his home debut, Alexander Isak had the chance to mark the occasion with a goal on 16 minutes - but after robbing Joachim Andersen in the centre circle and setting off for goal, he made a failed attempt to lob the 'keeper.

The two sides took it in turns to mount attacks in the opening stages of the game, but as the first half wore on United made further inroads into the visiting backline.

That culminated in a hectic goalmouth scramble in the 34th minute; when Longstaff's header was brilliantly denied by Guaita, Cheick Doucoure blocked Joelinton's follow-up from point-blank range and Botman's goalbound effort was deflected over the bar by Marc Guehi. Miggy Almiron then slammed his shot off a post two minutes later with Guaita rooted to the spot.

Following the scandal of the disallowed goal, United pushed on and the Paraguayan wastefully fired wide just before the hour.

Miggy lasted 70 minutes before making way for Jacob Murphy on the right and while he was his usual frustrating self, the arrival of Elliot Anderson in place of Ryan Fraser on the other flank added an extra dimension to our attacking efforts. The lad can play. 

Further chances fell to Willock, Joelinton and Isak, but the vital breakthrough was to elude United - and at the other end, Nick Pope did well to deny substitute Odsonne Edouard with his feet late on.

Six games played in the Premier League then and although we've only lost once - and that in controversial circumstances - Howe's side have just that solitary opening day win to their name so far.

That though has to be taken in the context of an injury list that sees our record signing adjust to his new surroundings and colleagues in the starting XI, while deprived of proven assist providers alongside him.

And then of course there's that bloody VAR, feeding paranoia about an agenda but also creating a siege mentality on and off the field around these parts.

Seven points by September 3rd then, a total that it took us until November 30th to acquire last season. That is progress.

Biffa/Niall