Here we f**king go again.

Stan Collymore 90+2, Robbie Fowler 90+2, Fabio Carvalho 90+8....and now Darwin Nunez 90+3.

Much pre-match noise centred around whether Newcastle fans had expectations of seeing their side collect three points today or whether there was merely an increased hope of a positive outcome. 

For all the excitement, anticipation and noise though, the form book in this particular fixture remained resolutely the right way round. Forget last season's Premier League table or whichever European trinket the clubs will contest, Like purple wheelie bins, we really should be used to this by now.

It looks like they've done us again - with the added agony of yet another last minute winner - but for once, it was our own doing this time. No controversies, no VAR outrage - at least not from us. 

Opinion remains divided as to whether the missed chances, the mass substitutions or the opposition going down to ten men was the deciding factor, but in reality it was a combination of all three - with a dash of ill-fortune and no little skill from the opposition goal scorer and goalkeeper.  

The early exchanges were feisty in the extreme; home fans and players seemingly feeding off each other in a bear pit atmosphere that made the opening ten minutes fly by.

That fervour was heightened by the booking of Trent Alexander-Arnold for tossing the ball away following a shove by Gordon, immediately followed by the Liverpool player obstructing him in what would otherwise have been a routine yellow card.

Fourth official Craig Pawson was kept busy dealing with interactions between the respective benches and that kept simmering when Alexander-Arnold's error allowed Gordon to open the scoring with his long-awaited first home goal.  

Three minutes later Van Dijk was shown a straight red for upending Alexander Isak on the edge of the box and although United failed to add a second before the break - Miggy Almiron's volley superbly saved by Alisson - there was little to suggest the demoralised visitors would stage a comeback.

The game continued after the break in similar vein; Almiron wastefully firing over the bar but then almost atoning for that error in spectacular fashion with a run from halfway and a curling strike that cannoned off the far post at the Gallowgate End.

The anticipated replacements brought messrs Wilson, Barnes and Longstaff into the fray as Isak, Gordon and Tonali made way. And while those changes would have an impact on the game, they were prompted by fitness concerns (Gordon looked to be limping slightly on his right leg) and previous dividends from fresh legs not to mention Liverpool's own substitutions some minutes earlier.

For all the frustration of Almiron's trio of misses, the real chance spurned was when Barnes hared in from the left and had Wilson in space towards the centre of the pitch what looked to be a "phoenix from the flames" rerun of Newcastle's fourth goal against Aston Villa a fortnight earlier.

Sadly though Barnes took an extra touch and the deflected cross that followed eluded Wilson, but even those missed chances just seemed annoying rather than costly until Nunez was played through by Diogo Jota in the 81st minute. Sven Botman got in a mess trying to clear, Nunez suddenly had sight of goal and his shot arrowed past Nick Pope and in off the post. 

Having failed to get that vital second goal, at 1-1 there was a certain grim inevitability about the outcome. The visitors came alive while the hosts looked increasingly uncertain. That nervousness transmitted itself into the crowd - or maybe it was the other way round.  

Worse was to follow when substitute Nunez racked up his second goal of the game during added time - a Toon torturer even more deadly than fellow Uruguayan and former Red Luis Suarez. We've not got close enough to this one yet to find out whether he falls over or sinks his fangs in.... 

Plenty to ponder for Howe and his team then, ahead of a week that brings Carabao Cup and Champions League draws, the closing of the transfer window and a testing trip to Brighton. 

To that list can be added concerns over the fitness of kingpin defender Botman limping off at 1-1 although he didn't need a stretcher and later left the ground without crutches or a boot on.  

Back to that expectation question and once the raw emotions subside and the pubs shut, we gave a worthy if flawed account of ourselves. Fine margins and misfortune at both ends of the field ultimately undid us but there was solace in seeing Gordon give his best performance for us yet. 

And never mind who can and cannot jig around the technical area, game management was always going to be an issue this season now that officials are less tolerant of the type of behaviour that routinely accompanied the closing stages of home wins here. 

Adapting to changing circumstances during games and expectations 24/7 is Howe's remit though; handling both effectively where he earns his money. In that respect he's got more of the tools he earmarked than most of his predecessors ever enjoyed, which adds to the pressure of course.

At least in domestic terms, his side are no longer underdogs. Taking chances and killing off sides in situations like this is the new reality, as per Manchester City versus us a week ago; no second goal but three points secured on the back of a midweek continental jaunt. At some point we'll beat this lot and it won't be a shock, we're just not there yet. We're also fighting history, there's a mentality change necessary in the stands - ourselves included. 

Newcastle sit thirteenth with three points from three games - two less than at this stage a year ago.  In terms of the actual opponents faced though, a home win over Villa and losses at Manchester City and Liverpool here mirror the outcomes of the last two seasons. They didn't turn out too badly.

Sulk over, Brighton here we come. PS: don't forget your ID. 

Biffa/Niall