CRISTIANO RONALDO was given an award from his old boss Alex Ferguson before kick-off in recognition of reaching 700 career goals.
But what should have been a celebration turned sour for the veteran Portuguese as his first Prem start since mid-August ended in disappointment.
He never looked like adding to his amazing tally and cut a frustrated figure as he was subbed 20 minutes from time as Erik ten Hag searched for a winner.
Ronaldo shook his head and muttered under his breath as he made way for Marcus Rashford – with only a yellow card to show for his afternoon.
Newcastle have won just once at Old Trafford since 1972 and even that solitary triumph was nine years ago now.
They have also conceded more Premier League goals in games with the Red Devils than against any other teams.
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So the fans who made the journey down the M1 would have done so more in hope than expectation – even though just one place and one point separated the two teams before kick-off.
Yet it was clear right from the first whistle that this might be a good day to face Erik ten Hag’s men, just 64 hours after their Europa League win over Omonia Nicosia.
Without Christian Eriksen due to illness, United struggled to get a grip on the game although Fred and Jadon Sancho both fired early efforts off target.
The best chance of the first half fell to the visitors as Kieran Trippier fired a free-kick into the wall but then hooked the loose ball into the box.
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Joelinton got there first but nodded his effort against the bar and then seemed surprised that the rebound came back to him – and headed his second attempt off the post.
From the resulting corner, Callum Wilson rose highest at the near post but directed his effort across goal and just wide of the far post.
At the other end, Antony saw a shot from a narrow angle saved by Nick Pope while Bruno Fernandes flashed a header wide but the home side had rarely looked like breaking through.
Ronaldo had the ball in the net twice in the opening minutes of the second half but both were ruled out – the first one for an obvious offside.
The second was for trying to nip in and score while Newcastle dallied over a free-kick – but he got a yellow card for his efforts and was perhaps a sign of his and United’s frustration.
The 37-year-old looked far from impressed when he was replaced by Marcus Rashford 20 minutes from time as Ten Hag tried to find a winner.
United appealed for a penalty as Sancho bounced off Sean Longstaff in the area but ref Craig Pawson was rightly having none of it.
Miguel Almiron wasted a late chance to win it for the Geordies as we was found on the edge of the box by Trippier’s corner but blazed his shot over.
Rashford almost created a winner for the home side as he ran onto a Casemiro pass and went round Pope before pulling a cross back.
Unfortunately it fell to Fred who lacked composure and did not get the connection he wanted and flicked his shot past the far post.
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Rashford arguably had an even better chance right at the end of stoppage time.
He got on the end of Casemiro’s pinpoint cross at the back post but nodded across goal and wide with the goal at his mercy.
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