Newcastle United 3 Manchester United 3

After the news of a £16m spending spree on two new midfielders in the form of Jonjo Shelvey and Henri Saivet beforehand, the Magpies showed the sort of spirit that will be required to keep them in the Premier League to clinch a point.

• Steve McLaren: Newcastle lay foundations with Jonjo signing and spirited Man Utd draw

And, just as importantly, Newcastle suddenly showed they can score goals as well: three of them, to prevent Manchester United from climbing level with fourth-placed Tottenham at St James’ Park.

Newcastle showed real character when Louis van Gaal’s side cruised into a two-goal lead courtesy of a penalty from Wayne Rooney in the ninth minute and Jesse Lingard’s second seven minutes before the break.

Georginio Wijnaldum, with his eighth of the season, pulled one back before the break and then Aleksandar Mitrovic converted a penalty in the 67th minute to reward Newcastle for a dominant second half.

But Rooney, who was brilliant and scored for the third game in a row for the first time in more than a year, drove Manchester United back in front to stun Tyneside before left-back Paul Dummett powered in an unstoppable equaliser in the final minute to earn a deserved point.

Newcastle United's Paul Dummett scores his goal past Manchester United's Chris Smalling, right. Picture AP Photo/Scott Heppell

The outcome leaves Newcastle a point below safety, although that could worsen should Swansea defeat Sunderland in South Wales on Wednesday. Yet, after a failure to score in four consecutive matches, at least scoring three against Manchester United offers encouragement for the run-in.

Shortly before a touching tribute to former goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek, who passed away a fortnight ago after a cardiac arrest while out jogging, from the fans, Newcastle gave the same supporters a glimpse of the future in the hope it would boost everyone. And it did.

The sight of Shelvey and Saivet, two midfielders to have penned five and a half year deals inside 24 hours following moves from Bordeaux and Swansea, in the middle of the pitch could be what is on the cards for real against West Ham this Saturday.

Newcastle signings Henri Saivet and Jonjo Shelvey acknowledge the fans before the match. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

But on this occasion it was about those McClaren already had at his disposal, with Jack Colback returning from injury after missing the weekend FA Cup defeat at Watford, and Cheik Tiote, the subject of an £8m offer from a Chinese club in Shanghai.

The defensive midfield pairing were soon on the back foot, with the red shirts of the visitors popping up around them looking for the gaps to exploit. That soon earned the corner kick which led to the opening goal.

It seemed the whole of St James’ was stunned by referee Mike Dean’s decision to point to the spot, but while controversial he will argue Chancel Mbemba had jumped with his arm in an unnatural position.

And that was enough to prevent Fellaini’s goalbound header from reaching its target and when Rooney stepped up to take the penalty he made no mistake; simply side-footing to the right when goalkeeper Rob Elliot went the wrong way.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot. Picture:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

For the next quarter of an hour Manchester United passed the ball around comfortably and looked in control, even though Elliot never had another save to make before the second goal arrived seven minutes before the break.

It might have been level at that time had his opposite number David de Gea made a solid stop with his legs to deny Wijnaldum as he darted onto a low centre from Ayoze Perez. That stop proved crucial.

When the ball was played up to Rooney towards the Newcastle box he was allowed to turn by the defenders around him. The England man held things up and allowed his team-mates to join in with the attack.

Lingard, admired by Newcastle and someone who played under McClaren at Derby last season, went on the overlap down the left flank and he latched on to Rooney’s lovely reverse pass before side-footing inside Elliot’s far post.

Newcastle fans, who had seen their team lose four games in a row without scoring, will have feared the worst at that point. But, just as a giant ‘Sportsdirectshame’ banner was confiscated by stewards in the Gallowgate, Wijnaldum pulled one back.

A 'SportsDirectShame' banner is unfurled in the stands at St James' Park, Newcastle. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

The Dutch summer signing, whose runs into the box have been a bright feature of a disappointing season, timed his charge perfectly to power a finish beyond de Gea from Mitrovic’s knock-down in the area.

That brought an end to a wait of 454 minutes for a goal for Newcastle and encouraged the dressing room at the break that Manchester United could be pegged back during nervy times under Louis van Gaal.

And Sissoko looked as if he had levelled soon after the restart. When he twisted his way beyond his markers in the box, he created the space to threaten goal but the quick-thinking de Gea rushed out to deny him from hitting the equaliser.

The second half became a story of waiting to see if Newcastle could find the breakthrough, although Manchester United still had a great chance to increase the lead before the hour.

An attack down the right caught Newcastle out. The clever feet of Ander Herrera and then Rooney teed up Lingard for his second of the night. But Lingard, unmarked and with much of the goal to aim for, wasted it.

Milan Srnicek during a minute's silence for his brother Pavel. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

Newcastle stepped things up even further. Colback had a decent shout for a penalty waved away when he appeared to be shoved to the floor by Fellaini but the referee did eventually give the home side a chance from 12 yards.

He had little choice. Mitrovic was man-handled to the floor by Chris Smalling. Yet, with his confidence hardly at a high after an indifferent first season in the Premier League, he still took it himself and coolly sent de Gea the wrong way. Just when it seemed Newcastle would go on to win it, Manchester United counter-attacked and made it count.

Dutch substitute Memphis darted inside and saw his shot blocked in the area, but Rooney was lurking on the edge of the box to power a brilliant winner inside Elliot’s right-hand post.

It was a cruel blow 11 minutes from time but at least there was a happier ending when local lad Dummett crashed an unstoppable drive high inside the top corner from 20 yards to claim a deserved point.