NEWCASTLE produced an excellent defensive display to claim their second point of the season courtesy of a battling 0-0 draw at Manchester United.

The Magpies were under the cosh for large periods of the game, but with Tim Krul in fine form and both Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini performing superbly at the heart of the back four, they dug deep to claim a creditable draw.

The outcome might have been even better had debutant Aleksandar Mitrovic been an inch or two lower with a first-half header that hit the crossbar, but with Chris Smalling also striking the woodwork in the closing stages, they will be satisfied with the final outcome.

Steve McClaren’s side displayed commendable organisation and resilience to repel a series of Manchester United attacks, with their performance auguring well for the remainder of the campaign.

McClaren made three changes to the side that lost at Swansea last weekend, two of which were enforced.

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Taylor replaced the suspended Daryl Janmaat, with Chancel Mbemba switching to right-back, while Ayoze Perez came into the midfield for the injured Moussa Sissoko. The third alteration was the most interesting, however, with Mitrovic making his first Newcastle start as he was preferred to Papiss Cisse in attack.

The Magpies were ripped apart in the early stages of last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium and, initially at least, they struggled to contain their opponents for the second game in succession.

Manchester United completely dominated the opening half-an-hour, and could well have claimed a couple of goals. Crucially, though, the visitors’ defence held firm.

Krul saved Memphis Depay’s long-range shot in the third minute, and while Wayne Rooney had the ball in the net shortly after, the England skipper was flagged offside. Subsequent television replays suggested he was probably level, so the incident was something of a let off for Newcastle.

Krul was called upon again in the 12th minute to keep out Juan Mata’s curled free-kick, and the Dutchman made his best save of the first half shortly after as he flung himself to his left to turn Mata’s low shot around the post.

Newcastle had barely even been in the game at that stage, and they might have crumbled completely had Krul not made another good stop midway through the first half to deny Memphis Depay after he cut in from the left.

The visitors desperately needed something to spark them into life, and it came in the 23rd minute as Mitrovic came within inches of claiming what would have been an outstanding goal on his debut.

Mbemba swung over a cross from the right-hand side, and Mitrovic leapt superbly to plant a 12-yard header against the crossbar.

It was a superb effort, and the Serb became an increasingly prominent presence from that point onwards, holding the ball up effectively and troubling the Manchester United defence with his prowess in the air.

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The entire Newcastle team grew in confidence as half-time approached, with Perez looking comfortable in possession as he cut in from the left and Georginio Wijnaldum starting to find pockets of space in front of the Manchester United back four.

Newcastle’s only other first-half effort saw Perez come close with a low shot that was deflected wide of the post, but the disparity in possession that was evident in the early stages had disappeared by the time half-time arrived.

The visitors continued to look reasonably comfortable at the start of the second half, with Rooney, so often Newcastle’s nemesis in the past, cutting an increasingly disconsolate figure in the lone striker role.

Louis van Gaal replaced Bastian Schweinsteiger with North-Easterner Michael Carrick in an attempt to re-establish his side’s dominance of the central area, but Taylor and Coloccini continued to defend with a combination of patience and commitment.

Depay cut in from the left-hand side to fire in a shot that deflected wide off Vurnon Anita, before Newcastle made a positive substitution of their own as Florian Thauvin replaced Gabriel Obertan to make his debut following last week’s £12m move from Marseille.

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With the game becoming increasingly stretched in the closing stages, Manchester United finally carved out a decent second-half chance with 17 minutes remaining.

Rooney found a pocket of space to cross from the left-hand side, but Mata slammed a first-time volley over the crossbar at the back post.

Newcastle’s defence came under increased pressure as full-time approached, and the visitors were indebted to a superb save from Krul with ten minutes left.

Mata’s shot deflected into the path of Javier Hernandez, but while the Mexican found himself clean through, Krul did brilliantly to save his shot with his legs.

The final minute of the game brought real drama at either of the field, as both sides came extremely close to grabbing a winner.

First, Depay swung over a corner, and Smalling leapt superbly to plant a header against the right-hand post.

Then, Newcastle swept upfield with a lightning-quick break, and a sliding Thauvin only narrowly failed to turn the ball into the net as fellow substitute Cisse delivered a teasing ball from the right.

Man United (4-2-3-1): Romero; Darmian (Valencia 77), Smalling, Blind, Shaw; Schweinsteiger (Carrick 59), Schneiderlin; Mata, Depay, Januzaj (Hernandez 67); Rooney.

Subs (not used): Johnstone (gk), McNair, Herrera, Young.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul; Mbemba, Taylor, Coloccini, Haidara; Anita, Colback; Perez (Tiote 77), Wijnaldum, Obertan (Thauvin 69); Mitrovic (Cisse 88).

Subs (not used): Darlow (gk), Williamson, Aarons, de Jong.