Sir Alex Ferguson was pitchside again at kick-off and had he returned at the death no amount of injury time could have elicited a winner from Manchester United.
One fan trundled down the gangways in the 77th minute and muttered bitterly at the Newcastle analysts. Newcastle's obdurate approach had got to United supporters, as well as the players, three of whom were cautioned.
The unreliable referee Craig Pawson irked the crowd almost as much as some of United's underperformers. There were boos at the final shrill, the loudest reserved for Pawson, though he was not the cause of another blunt United performance. They were lifeless.
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Ferguson strode back out onto the turf for a well-devised presentation to recognise the achievements of two of his finest signings: Cristiano Ronaldo's 700th club goal and David de Gea's 500th United appearance. Old father time is catching up with both.
Just past the 70th minute, the number seven's number was up. Ronaldo walked off to a standing ovation when he had been more hindrance than help.
The terrain of eggshells United are treading on around Ronaldo are so widespread that every action is scrutinised. Ten Hag joined in with the obligatory applause and Ronaldo exchanged a cursory handshake but shook his head disconsolately.
United are such a mercurial team they are longing for Anthony Martial, starter of one Premier League match in the last year. And that lasted 29 minutes.
As misleading and, potentially, meaningless pre-season can be, United's attack revolved around Martial living up to his squad number and they look bereft without him. Their impotence was exacerbated by the absence of the unwell Christian Eriksen.
Casemiro and Fred, such a compatible partnership they are regulars for Brazil, played as though from different countries. Fred, only retained with Eriksen out, was shambolically sloppy in his fifth start of the campaign.
For all the record summer investment, United are dependent on a 30-year-old who was a free agent when he strode down Deansgate in July. In a midfield that will consist of three 30-somethings at the end of the season, it is already patently apparent United need a younger and dynamic alternative. Little wonder Ten Hag blindly coveted Frenkie de Jong.
All Ten Hag had to turn to against Newcastle were Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo on their maiden Premier League squad appearances. Mainoo, 17 and possibly the most polished talent in last season's victorious FA Youth Cup side, started for the Under-21s against Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Saturday.
Concerns over the lack of dependable goalscorers are well-founded. Marcus Rashford was the predictable substitution and only one. Facundo Pellistri remains unplayed two years and 11 days on from signing and Alejandro Garnacho's matchday presence is pointless.
The exasperation with Fred was audible in the first-half and three days after his removal was greeted chirpily by a section of the crowd against Omonia Nicosia. The rendition of Rashford's chant was particularly rousing, as if in the hope it would hasten his introduction.
Rashford rounded Nick Pope in the 88th minute yet with the angle acute opted to square to Fred, of all people, and he screwed it wide under pressure. In the 95th, the centre forward Rashford cushioned the ball wide of the post with the goal gaping. It is not a coincidence his five goals have come from the left.
Fred was not the only brittle vertebra in the spine. De Gea played him a hospital pass as reminiscent and regressive as at Brentford and Ronaldo was offside more often than Filippo Inzaghi. With Ronaldo, there is no need for linesmen to delay raising their flag.
Ronaldo had two goals chalked off in a minute, first for offside and secondly for intercepting the ball when it was arguably in play. Fabian Schar rolled it to 'keeper Nick Pope - no stranger to time-wasting at Old Trafford - Ronaldo scored, appealed and was carded.
Newcastle's boys from Brazil were more of a menace than United's, with Ten Hag burying his head in his hands at Antony's wastefulness. United were grateful his compatriot is not as clinical, for Joelinton nodded against the crossbar and then the post on the rebound.
Sean Longstaff, a player United once contemplated parting with £50million for, cowed midfielders recruited for £125m. Bruno Guimaraes, perhaps emboldened against his national teammates, was diligent at both ends.
A Newcastle analyst clapped bullishly as Lisandro Martinez's attempted line-breaker was blocked. Without the lock-picker Eriksen, United had no solution for a game plan tried and tested innumerable times in M16.
Ronaldo and Fernandes bickered while Raphael Varane and Martinez were the only players in red affronted by Newcastle imposing themselves. Ten Hag instructed Fernandes and Antony during one of the myriad of stoppages that sullied Newcastle's purposeful performance before the pause.
De Gea demonstrated with his errant distribution why he may struggle to make it to 600 appearances. In the 70th minute, the crowd berated United's longest servant for delaying a counter-attack. In the 93rd minute, United were turning attack into defence, rolling the ball aimlessly back to De Gea.
Soon, they were out of time.
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