Right, we know exactly where we are. Newcastle require two Premier League victories to guarantee Champions League football and they now have back to back home matches.
It is set up perfectly.... definitely, maybe? Well yes, staged managed if it works. Squeaky time at Chelsea on the final day if United fall short. Either an ideal way to end a momentous season or far, far too close for comfort. It is always thus with Geordies.
However we stay positive as we must. Let United go out and claim their entry to Europe's elite house in the best possible way before their own passionate loyalists at St James Park.
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Fifty thousand Magpies deserve to witness a climax to soaring hope before their very gaze which means beating Brighton on Thursday night and then Leicester next Monday.
I am confident, we are confident, but it is going to be an L of a finish . . . Liverpool are the chasers who can spoil the party and Leicester hold a vital key to the hopes of both the Mersey Reds and Newcastle.
Liverpool, four points behind United from level games, visit Leicester Monday night. An away victory keeps the pressure on, a home win or draw helps Newcastle greatly.
It is hard to believe that when the Scousers drew with Arsenal last month they were trailing the Mags by 12 points but having strung six wins together are now breathing on our necks.
A see-saw 2-2 draw at Leeds saw United let a lead slip in the last quarter of an hour leaving the door swinging on its hinges rather than slammed shut in the face of Jurgen Klopp. Honestly, I was so frustrated because warning signs have long been flashing as large as Grey's Monument.
On the eve of the Elland Road visit I built my match preview round Newcastle's desperate need to reverse a recent worrying trend. I pointed out that the supposedly meanest defence in the PL had actually kept only one clean sheet in their last 16 league and cup matches which is a poor record for such an exalted claim.
That needed to be reversed. United had to get back to claiming shut outs and quickly. Yet within seven minutes they had conceded and ended up letting in two goals against a team second bottom who also missed a penalty. Talk about making it difficult for yourself. Make that one clean sheet in 17 as of now.
The early blow which put United firmly on the back foot was particularly galling because of missed opportunities all over the penalty area. Kieran Trippier was leaden footed out wide failing to close down the cross and when it came our big men stood stock still allowing two Leeds attackers not one to power through a gap as big as the Grand Canyon. Nick Pope needed his full stretch to keep the ball out only for the rebound to fall kindly to Luke Ayling, not tracked by Alexander Isak, and it was a simple tap in.
All three spot kicks were penalties, no question, with Joelinton proving that while his general physicality is an advantage the timing of his tackles reflects the recklessness of a centre-forward, his old role. Big Joe's yellow cards this season only lend weight to that observation.
If Leeds needed a Pep talk before the game then Big Sam would claim he was the man to give it. After all there is no one better. Not even Guardiola!
Allardyce will claim it worked too but it worked because Newcastle were generous at the back. Please stop it against Brighton and Leicester at home. Do not make it so difficult to win and so nervy for those watching. There should be no requirement to repeatedly climb a mountain having to score at least twice to win.
United's feared front men Callum Wilson and Isak, the centre of a great debate about how to best employ them, were directly responsible for both Magpie goals. Wilson scored them from the penalty spot after Isak won both spot kicks. The first when he was brought down and the second when a panicking and reckless Junior Firpo - later sent off - handled with Isak attacking on his shoulder.
Certainly Newcastle looked better balanced and more potent when Isak was switched from wide left to play at No 10 closer to Wilson.
However one point out of the last six needs to be addressed pretty quickly and preferably before United go to Chelsea to avoid it coming down to a fearful finale.
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