Danny Ings struck an early goal of the season contender before Anwar El-Ghazi converted from the spot after a controversial, VAR-aided penalty award, while United had a spot-kick of their own given but then reversed.

Those two calls helped to make it a disappointing afternoon for the Magpies and their 2,950 travelling supporters, who were watching their team on the road for the first time since a 1-0 win at Southampton 532 days ago. 

Joe Willock was handed his second debut for United following his arrival from Arsenal on a permanent deal, replacing the injured Jonjo Shelvey, while captain Jamaal Lascelles and fellow defender Fabian Schär came in for Ciaran Clark and Emil Krafth in the starting line-up. 

Callum Wilson had opened the scoring in the fifth minute for United against West Ham last weekend and he almost did the same again here.

Tyrone Mings misjudged a long ball from Federico Fernández and the Newcastle number nine raced through one-on-one with Emiliano Martínez, but after opening up his body and attempting to pick his spot, his effort went agonisingly wide.

Then, seconds later, Willock saw a low shot across goal scrambled away by Matty Cash, with Wilson waiting to pounce at the far post. 

In the 15th minute, after United conceded possession in their own half, the home side worked the ball to John McGinn in a good position outside the box, but the Scotsman couldn't keep his strike down and it went over the bar. 

And five minutes later, Danny Ings ran onto Jacob Ramsey's through-ball but rolled his effort wide, although a flag quickly went up for offside anyway. 

After the Magpies had appeals for a penalty waved away by referee David Coote - Jacob Murphy went down under Ashley Young's challenge, but there appeared to be minimal contact - Cash sent a half-volley dipping just over the top of Freddie Woodman's goal and Douglas Luiz also fired off target.

As half-time approached, Wilson couldn't quite turn home a left-wing cross from Miguel Almirón then Fernández headed over from a Matt Ritchie free kick. 

But in first-half stoppage time, after Cash's long throw was flicked on by the head of Mings, Ings executed a superb bicycle kick to put his side ahead. 

And it was 2-0 just after the hour mark, with Mings again causing havoc in the United box. This time, his header was blocked by a stray hand from Lascelles, with VAR intervening - although there appeared to be little that the United captain could do given his close proximity to Mings. Referee Coote opted to take a look at the monitor and pointed to the spot, allowing El-Ghazi to send Woodman the wrong way.

Newcastle rallied, with Ritchie shooting off target from Wilson’s lay-off before Wilson came close himself.

Then the Newcastle frontman was taken out by Martínez in the box as he sprinted onto Willock's pass, with Coote pointing to the spot instantly. But the VAR, Jarred Gillett, had other ideas once more, this time determining that Wilson had been offside by the narrowest of margins.

Substitutes Ryan Fraser and Joelinton had late half-chances, as did Wilson, but the Magpies couldn't give themselves a late foothold on a frustrating afternoon.