Newcastle's European hopes still lie in the balance after a disappointing defeat at Old Trafford on Wednesday, gifting three goals to the hosts and squandering numerous chances in front of goal.

Trailing to Kobbie Mainoo's 31st minute opener after dominating the early stages, the visitors levelled just four minutes into the second period when Anthony Gordon latched on to Jacob Murphy's cross.

Parity lasted less than ten minutes however, a fine first Premier League goal by ex-mackem loanee Amad Diallo leaving Martin Dubravka completely helpless.

Substitute Rasmus Hojlund then appeared to have sealed victory six minutes before the end of normal time with what was almost his first touch, only for Lewis Hall to net from distance following a corner. 

However there was to be no dramatic late leveller and what may have been the best chance in a decade for Eddie Howe's side to claim maximum points here instead saw them leave empty-handed. 

Newcastle slipped to seventh - overtaken by Chelsea thanks to their 2-1 win at Brighton - and level on points with the Red Devils, but still ahead of them by virtue of a superior goal difference of 24.

The task for the Magpies away to Brentford on Sunday is now simple: emulate or improve on the result that Erik ten Hag's team achieve at Brighton.

That would guarantee seventh and a Conference League playoff place, unless Manchester United then overcame Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday week - earning them a Europa League spot, pushing the sixth place finisher into the Europa Conference and depriving the team finishing in seventh of European football.

The other positive scenario sees Chelsea lose at home to Bournemouth on Sunday and Newcastle to winning at Brentford to bridge the three point gap and occupy sixth place on goal difference: enough to snag either a Europa League or a Europa Conference berth depending on the Wembley outcome. 

Back to this game though and rarely have the Magpies created so many clear chances at this venue - even including their 3-0 Carabao Cup win here last year.

Gordon, Sean Longstaff and Alexander Isak all failed when one-on-one with Andre Onano, although Gordon's was due to a clear foul by Sofyan Amrabat missed by referee Robert Jones and ignored by VAR man Jarred Gillett - who presumably thought that the technology had already been scrapped ahead of next month's Premier League vote.

As well as being denied that penalty, Dan Burn's header was cleared off the line by Casemiro a fraction before crossing it, Bruno Guimaraes missed a clear header and Isak's blocked shot hit the bar. The visiting substitutes fared no better meanwhile: Joelinton's header tipped over and Miggy Almiron almost converting a Gordon cross-shot.

Despite that profligacy, it was a series of lapses at the other end that ultimately cost the black & whites dearly. The returning Kieran Trippier played Mainoo onside for the first, a poor clearing header from Murphy let the unmarked Diallo fire in the second and Hojlund was flanked by three defenders when he dispatched a low shot under the culpable Dubravka for the third.

Self-inflicted blows at both ends of the pitch tonight leave Newcastle more reliant on the efforts of others in order to achieve a tangible reward for this season. 

Questions also abound after this result: the journey to Tyneside saw many aired; the immobility of Trippier (rusty or finished?), justifications for Fabian Schar and Joelinton not starting, Isak's fitness (improved from Saturday but still not right), whether that was a £100m midfield display... and planning a whip-round for Miggy's (single) air fare to Riyadh.

What wasn't up for debate though was another disappointing away outcome when it really mattered.

Hope isn't lost though and it's now up to us - and Manchester City - to make this result immaterial. 

Biffa