As full-time loomed, Eddie Howe pointed at Erik ten Hag. The finger of blame for this limp defeat must also be directed at the Manchester United manager.
Howe took umbrage with Ten Hag's complaint about Nick Pope's time-wasting when David de Gea had been at it in the first half. United attempted to beat Newcastle at their own game with their gamesmanship and dependence on the counter-attack. They failed.
That questionable balance was an admission of Newcastle's status as top-four competitors. It was beneath Ten Hag and it never came close to succeeding.
