On paper, Manchester United's defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon was nowhere near as bad as their humblings at the Gtech Community Stadium, the Etihad Stadium and Anfield.
On the pitch, however, it was just as humiliating. Although David de Gea was only tasked with picking the ball out of the back of his net twice on this occasion, United were outclassed at St James' Park, losing 2-0 to present third place to Newcastle, albeit on goal difference, on a plate.
United, from the very first whistle, were second best on Tyneside. Newcastle, powered by the energy manufactured by their supporters in the stands, got at Erik ten Hag's side from the off. They understood the size of the occasion and the importance of scooping all three points.
READ MORE: What happened inside the United dressing room after Newcastle defeat
The Reds, unlike at Wembley five weeks earlier, seemingly didn't understand its significance. Without Casemiro marshalling the midfield, United struggled to contain Newcastle from the off and had it not been for De Gea's heroics between the sticks they would have gone into the half-time interval behind.
Despite no doubt being on the receiving end of a Ten Hag rollocking at the break, it failed to fulfil its purpose, with United shooting themselves in the foot in the build-up to Newcastle's opener. They attempted to play the ball out from the back and then provided a lesson in how not to defend in the build-up to Joe Willock nodding the ball home from close quarters. They didn't cover themselves in glory when Callum Wilson headed home the second from a trademark Kieran Trippier free-kick delivery, either.
But even though it was the manner of United's performance that quite rightly angered their supporters the most, it was yet more proof that the Reds crumble when being under the faintest bit of pressure away from home. The defeat to Eddie Howe's side was the Reds' sixth against a member of the top half of the table away from home this season.
United have taken just three points from a possible 21 against top half members on their travels this season. They have now lost at Brentford (4-0), Manchester City (6-3), Aston Villa (3-1), Arsenal (3-2), Liverpool (7-0) and Newcastle (2-0). Each and every one of those defeats has seen them capitulate when the going has got tough and the slightest bit of pressure has crept in, even if some of the scorelines have not been as damning as others.
United's only points away from home against clubs in the top half of the table this season were won at Craven Cottage when they beat Fulham 2-1 just before the World Cup break, courtesy of a 93rd-minute winner from Alejandro Garnacho. For a club that has aspirations of kicking-on and winning the title next season it is a very, very concerning trend.
In fact, if you dive a little deeper and look into the bottom half of the Premier League table, United have only earned five points away from home this season against clubs currently camped inside the top 12. Ten Hag's side failed to beat both Chelsea, who sacked Graham Potter on Sunday night, and Crystal Palace on their travels, drawing both encounters 1-1.
That means, in total, United have collected just five points from a possible 27 against top 12 teams away from home this season and they still have to go to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion before the end of the campaign. It is a torrid record and Sunday's performance offered no signs to suggest it will be corrected anytime soon.
Every time they come up against a half-decent team away from home they get stage fright and freeze. Their away record is alarming, highlighted further by the fact they have now conceded 29 goals on the road this term, even though it is important to recognise the caveat that they did concede 13 of those in just two games.
Nevertheless, United are setting an unwanted trend of being unable to beat any half-decent side away from Old Trafford. After what happened at Anfield last month, you would have expected them to learn from it and use that forgettable afternoon as motivation to ensure it never happened again.
Although United didn't concede seven times on this occasion, Newcastle, with a little bit more ruthlessness, could have run it close. The Reds were off the pace again away from home and any supporter making the trips south to Tottenham and Brighton in the coming weeks may already be fearing the worst.
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