NEWCASTLE: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique,Barton, Guthrie, Tiote, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ireland 69),Ameobi (Ranger 72). Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Kuqi.
MAN UTD: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra,Nani (Owen 80), Carrick, Anderson (Valencia 70), Giggs,Hernandez, Rooney. Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Park, Fabio Da Silva, Evans, Gibson.
Att: 49,025
Then it was all hands to the pump as the game switched to pressure on Tim Krul's goal.
It was a game of two penalty shouts (one for either team); the appearance of 'Parasite' Owen to a far from warm welcome; and Stephen Ireland who looked about as fit as me (and I'm 56!).
I'm sure the national press will say Ryan Giggs squandered the chance of the match ... but we had a couple of clear cut chances ourselves.
All-in-all it was a decent match that could have gone either way. Alan Pardew said he had a "special plan" for Wayne Rooney, although it wasn't apparent from where was sat, although the England striker didn't find the back of the net against Newcastle (for once!).
The Welshman shot wide with the goal at his mercy after being picked out by Patrice Evra with 69 minutes gone to let two points slip from the leaders' grasp.
Peter Lovenkrands was tripped by Anderson inside the penalty area, and that could have produced the penalty - the goal - and the first win over Man Utd in ten years. But the referee didn't have the balls to give it.
The Mancs tested Tim Krul after just two minutes when he was forced to block Hernandez's effort, and the Dutchman was delighted to see full-back Jose Enrique get his body into the line of the Mexican's goal-bound injury-time shot.
But in the meantime, the Magpies gave as good as they got in an entertaining first-half during which they too created chances.
Chris Smalling got enough on Jonas Gutierrez's fifth-minute attempt to deflect it around the post, and Edwin van der Sar had to save from Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands and Cheik Tiote in quick succession.
Krul made another fine save from Rooney after he burst through on 19 minutes, although Mr Probert clearly did not spot his intervention as he awarded only a goal-kick.
United gradually eased into full flow with the movement of the Rooney and Hernandez and Nani's pace causing problems for Newcastle, who dropped ever deeper as the half wore on.
However, they might have taken the lead a minute before the break when Joey Barton picked out Lovenkrands inside the penalty area with a teasing right-wing cross.
The Dane did not realise how much time he had and may have been surprised that the ball reached him at all, but he planted his header harmlessly wide.
Ferguson's players returned long before their Magpies counterparts and resumed in determined fashion as they forced a series of corners which the home side managed to repel, but often at full stretch.
Krul was grateful to see Giggs head straight at him from Nani's 51st-minute cross, although Ameobi was unable to trouble Van der Sar any further with a looping effort seconds later.
Mike Williamson only just prevented Hernandez from meeting Giggs' 55th-minute cross with a prodigious leap and Nani blazed high and wide seconds later as the pressure mounted.
Lovenkrands was convinced he should have been awarded a 58th-minute penalty for Anderson's challenge on him, but Mr Probert, who had earlier turned down Nani's claims against Gutierrez, was similarly unmoved.
The Dane headed just over after the visitors struggled to clear Barton's 61st-minute free-kick, but United were starting to up the tempo to repeatedly stretch their hosts once again.
They should have been in front with 69 minutes gone when Evra carved his way into the box to set up Giggs, but the veteran midfielder contrived to fire wide.
Nani and Rooney both went close from distance as time ran down and Giggs fired wide again two minutes from time.
But after Hernandez's yellow card, Rooney headed wide from substitute Antonio Valencia's injury-time cross as Newcastle managed to hold out.