United twice threw away the lead to draw 2-2 with Tottenham at St James' Park
When the guns fell silent, the dust settled, and the light faded and dimmed over the battlefield it had boiled down to who managed to stay true to their reputation.
Tottenham Hotspur arrived at our door with the exact opposite credentials to Newcastle - shocking at home, excellent away. While United had reeled off six successive victories before their faithful, Spurs were third top of the away form table (only one defeat in six) but second bottom at home (one win in seven).
Tottenham fans had been doubting Thomas (Frank) but relieved of the toxic atmosphere on home territory it was them who stayed true to nature whereas United failed to close out the game.
However truth be told it was not about what they did but what we didn't. The defending of hard-earned leads was pathetic. United showed as much discipline and resistance as a kite in a high wind. They were all over the place. This wasn't the elite play of a Champions League side but the chaos of a Sunday morning kickabout.
Eddie Howe, ever the diplomat, nevertheless accepted United's frailty afterwards admitting: "We are disappointed with the first goal, it was a standard cross and we haven't defended it well enough. The second one, we didn't deal with the first contact then didn't stop the overhead kick. Somehow it went in. It's a painful one for us to take."
No names mentioned of course because it is always a collective affair with United's boss and not individual but here goes. Dan Burn criminally let returning skipper Cristian Romero get across him on the first while the chaos on the injury-time equaliser began with Aaron Ramsdale getting a weak punch on a corner with five of the nine added minutes gone.
Romero helped himself to a second with a bicycle kick that came off his shin and somehow bobbled agonisingly into the net. First passed sub Fabian Schar, then through the legs of Malick Thiaw, then beyond Burn with Ramsdale diving late like a felled oak. It was only the second and final Spurs effort on target and was the third time desperately late goals at SJP have denied the Mags. All in all a catalogue of crime.
If United's fans, who had bayed for Nick Pope to be dropped as had we all, craved Ramsdale to showcase his credentials before 50,000 of their own then this was an opportunity missed. Frankly he produced little that encouraged confidence and he needs to quickly forget about an poor night and move on to another home game on Saturday.
Sadly the two goals undid all the good work in twice getting ahead. Subs are supposed to make an impact and, boy, did United's. Skipper Bruno, on at half-time, struck a delightful first opening up his body to meet a Nick Woltemade knock back and then when United were awarded a somewhat controversial penalty which took VAR and the referee an eternity to award Anthony Gordon showed commendable courage and calmness.
While the ref and all the players huddled round the video screen Gordon stood alone in the penalty area, the ball under his arm. Spurs keeper then attempted to unsettle nerves even further by refusing to get back onto his line but all to no avail. Gordon's shot was as straight as an arrow into the heart.
Nevertheless United wasted two terrific opportunities. First to close out three successive PL wins ridding themselves of the accusation that the only consistency they show is inconsistency and at the same time wasting the fact that a victory would have meant United topping last season's figures.
It would have put them on 21 points from 14 games compared to 20 from the same number of matches last campaign when they went on to enjoy a stirring campaign of achievement winning their first domestic trophy in 70 years and qualifying for the Champions League.
Still all is not doom and gloom, just frustrating and disappointing. United are still only a point behind the 2024-25 total and can wipe out the latest bitter taste by defeating relegation threatened Burnley at SJP on Saturday.
They had been so bright early doors against a Tottenham side always likely to go Spursy. Lewis Hall had looked a class act, Woltemade's flicks and tricks were coming off at this stage, and Harvey Barnes was the bright spark he has been of late. Afterwards Gordon and especially Bruno were enterprising but when you defend like a chocolate fireguard then you live with danger and so it proved.
Burney must now be put to the sword, regardless of the homecoming of Martin Dubravka. No more ricks, only positivity.