We may not have headlined our musings with a variant on the "Howay 5-0" headline from almost 30 years ago, but had he occupied the seat offered to him at St.James' Park on Sunday, elements of that memorable performance in 1996 would have been familiar to Kevin Keegan.

A fourth successive Premier League victory maintained Newcastle's charge towards Champions League qualification; the most comprehensive dismantling of Manchester United since KK was in the home dugout propelling the 2025 incarnation of the Entertainers into fourth place.

The names may have changed but the excitement levels generated by the attack-minded hosts were as timeless as the crowd reaction; roars of approval ringing out whenever opposition players were hunted down near to their own goal and physical battles for possession were won. 

Goals from Sandro Tonali and one from Bruno Guimaraes reminiscent of Keegan's debut effort against QPR at the same end book-ended a brace from Harvey Barnes, who repaid the decision to name an unchanged team for the fifth game despite the renewed availability of Anthony Gordon.

While the contribution of one former Magpie boss was celebrated, the current incumbent was also audibly supported in his unexpected absence. The noise generated may not have quite reached Eddie Howe in his RVI bed, but the level for support him was evident in the TV coverage he watched.

That soundtrack included a mass rendition of "Eddie Howe's black and white army" before the cheers that greeted the home side's opener midway through the first half - earlier celebrations prompted by Joelinton's effort in the first minute quickly stifled by an offside flag. 

What might have come as a shock to KK though was what appeared in place of where a feared football team once trod. United in name only, the visitors looked devoid of leadership, motivation or inspiration as they close in on their worst league finish since suffering relegation in 1974.
 
Alexander Isak teed up Tonali to volley past Bayindir, the Premier League debutant denying the top scorer a second goal that would have reflected the balance of play. A rare venture into the home box though saw Diogo Dalot play in Alejandro Garnacho to level shortly before half time.

Whether it's a measure of our current confidence or the visible decline of the visitors, the equaliser brought mild frustration rather than consternation. The same line-up returned following what Tindall termed "tweaks" to repel the Red Devils and the lead was promptly restored within five minutes.

Bruno Guimaraes found Tino Livramento on the left just inside the opposition half and the full back who spent much of the game in an attacking role shimmied past Dalot before laying a low pass across the six yard box that reached Jacob Murphy beyond the back post.

His astute layoff across goal was met by the advancing Barnes who converted from close range and the winger was celebrating his third goal of the week within quarter of an hour, capitalising on Noussair Mazraoui's stumble and setting off for goal before supplying a memorable finish. 

Then came Bruno's effort to round off the scoring and seal Newcastle's first league double over the Old Trafford side in 94 years; Gordon returning from injury and suspension to appear in the closing stages and almost catching out the beleaguered Bayindir. 

That song about Shearer costing more than Solskjaer echoed around the ground early on, but those who stoically stayed in the away section were serenaded by a rewrite of the Old Trafford Joy Division / Ryan Giggs ditty in honour of Barnes, followed by their own "you've seen United..." chant.

And rather than the usual "Moving on up" from Primal Scream that invariably follows home wins, a moment of inspiration from the SJP DJ saw a slice of "Step On" by the Happy Mondays served up - melons were certainly twisted down Matt Busby Way.

Games against this lot always carry more weight to us, meaning that the satisfaction of defeating them is heightened. The current Newcastle squad may have avenged their 2023 Wembley defeat in meetings since then, but our grudges go way back further than that and we're not alone....

We may well have won the battle on that day in 1996, but Fergie's lot still won the war in terms of the title. The difference between then and now is that today's victory was the expected outcome though, rather than what was a periodic and unexpected treat. Not going into this fixture as the underdog is uncharted territory for several generations of black and whiters.

A renaissance may well follow with or without Ruben Amorim, but there's genuinely not a player in that team that you'd take at this point in time. And as for Gary Neville's comments about Isak emulating Andy Cole's move 30 years ago, they're as fanciful as his pre-season predictions are proving to be. 

Off-field issues surrounding Manchester United may well be replicated here over time - specifically alienating their core fanbase - but they can wait for another day. For the sheer novelty of it, we're just revelling in this moment of superiority, we've waited long enough.

Next up is our game in hand against Crystal Palace at Gallowgate on Wednesday night, where another three point haul would raise us up to third - five points clear of the team in sixth place.

For Newcastle to have successfully discredited the notion of choosing between competing for trophies or concentrating on the league this season is testament to the man who went where messrs Keegan, Robson, Rafa and all of the others couldn't. Get well soon Eddie.

Biffa