The Magpies were looking to achieve their first league double over the Red Devils since the 1930/31 season, though the visitors hadn't lost on three consecutive league visits to St. James’ Park since between 1969 and 1970.
Ruben Amorim would surely have also been aware that were Newcastle to emerge victorious, it would make them the fourth team to do the Premier League double over his team this season, the most different sides to do so in a single top-flight campaign since 1957/58 (4).
Averaging 1.15 points-per-game in the Premier League, Amorim's record is only just ahead of United's first-ever manager AH Albut (0.73) - in position from 1889 to 1900 - and Scott Duncan (1.00) - manager from 1932 to 1937 - assuming 20+ games played in a season.
In Bruno Fernandes, however, United have a player that has created more chances than any other in the Premier League this season (75). It’s also the fifth time he has created 75+ chances in a single season in the competition, with the only player on record (from 2003/04) to do so more times being Kevin De Bruyne (seven).
Evidently hope springs eternal when Bruno is in their starting XI.
Ruben Amorim not bowing to the pressure after huge Onana call
Even if there was little more than pride at stake for Man United in the game, Amorim made another big pre-match call by dropping error-prone goalkeeper, Andre Onana.
"Of course, you have to see the context," Amorim said before the game. "It is a normal thing. Sometimes, you have to push the player to play again, sometimes you have to let him disconnect a little bit.
"He will be in training to prepare for the next game (Lyon) so I felt that it was a good time for Andre to disconnect. I think he was okay (about it) because I explained and then, you don't need to like (the decision), but you understand because I explain every situation."
It showed once again that the manager will not be cowed by the pressure and will continue to do things his way.
Whether that's enough to see him remain in the job past this season will only become clear after the final whistle of the final match of the campaign.
The Cameroon stopper was brought to the club by previous manager, Erik ten Hag, of course, but has never really covered himself in glory during his tenure at Old Trafford.
A number of errors across the 94 matches he's played for the club will have left some of the United faithful scratching their heads at just why former custodian, David de Gea, was seemingly eased out of the exit door at the Theatre of Dreams.
Stats show David de Gea was no worse than his replacement Onana
Since the 2021/22 season, the pair have made exactly the same amount of saves (310), with de Gea's 200 from inside the box marginally better than Onana's 191.
The Spaniard's 14 catches during this time were better than Onana's 12, his 27 punches are six shy of the 29-year-old's 33, and just two dropped balls from De Gea compares to his contemporary's nine.
De Gea has also saved more penalties (three) than Onana's two since 21/22 and with 30 keeper sweepings, has one more than the Cameroonian in a metric that stays the same even when taking into account accurate keeper sweepings.
427 successful goal kicks from the Spaniard also compare extremely favourably to Onana's 224, and excluding own goals the latter has conceded 137 since joining United, whilst De Gea let in 121 from 21/22 until he left the club.
All in all, then there isn't really much to choose between either, so if it was felt that de Gea's best days were behind him, United dropped a clanger in bringing in a keeper that's not really done any better.
Is Altay Bayindir the answer or should Man United look further afield?
Against Newcastle, Altay Bayindir was handed the opportunity to stake his own claims for a regular starting berth, but contributing to United's 4-1 defeat with a howler of his own was never going to endear him to his manager.
Of course, one could argue that, compared with Onana, he's had no time to get into a rhythm of games, which is something that every player will tell you is needed in order to produce their best work.
Just eight matches played over two seasons - his appearance against Newcastle was Bayindir's first in the Premier League for United - isn't a big enough sample size with which to make a judgment on whether the 27-year-old Turkish international should be the club's future number one.
67.4% success from just 29 saves, therefore, can't really be compared with Onana's 68.7% and de Gea's 70.7%.
Ultimately, it's another fine mess that the Red Devils have got themselves into and thought a root and branch clearout in the squad might be considered necessary in some quarters, it probably isn't the wisest idea at this point.
The goalkeeping situation has to be sorted out this summer, however, and Amorim - or his potential successor - will need to make that a priority.
