Newcastle players and staff clap the fans following the Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park
This was supposed to be like stepping over a kerb after crossing the road compared to the mighty obstacles of Becher's Brook and The Chair which brought Newcastle United crashing down recently while negotiating the Grand National course of a competitive season.
It wasn't Barca in the Champions League or the Premier League derby from hell yet United spectacularly failed to soar over their latest modest hurdle with rediscovered ease as we had all hoped.
Europe? Are you having a laugh? Crystal Palace left all their big hitters on the subs' bench to keep them fresh for European endeavour in a few days time. They had won only three Premier League fixtures at home all season long and they had played an exhausting, emotionally draining, European Conference League game only three days prior.
However when a laboured United looked as though they might survive boredom to fashion a victory Palace called on Jean-Philippe Mateta to ride to the rescue. And what happened? He brought a sense of urgency to an end-of-season game and scored twice to break Geordie hearts and the frail resistance of predictable easy beats.
After the final whistle the match winner walked round Selhurst Park drinking in the applause of grateful fans wearing a Newcastle shirt emblazoned with the name of Wissa across it. Only it wasn't United's centre-forward, it was the Palace line leader who had swapped shirts with one of the Magpies many ineffectual subs.
For the umpteenth time this season United led in a PL match which they then contrived to lose. . . . just as they did with Sunderland last time out.
United have as much desire and passion as a limp lettuce leaf. They have the resistance of a chocolate fireguard. As much pride as a guy with a white flag.
I repeat, Europe? The grandstand finish CEO David Hopkinson demanded? The response when refreshed and playing just one game a week? The determination to repay Eddie Howe?
United slumped to 14th in the Premier League table, just four places above the relegation basement dwellers, and next up are Bournemouth who jumped over a prostrate Newcastle by winning at table toppers Arsenal to extend their impressive unbeaten PL run to 12 matches. Playing his old club slap bang in the middle of a run of shocking defeats must be Howe's worst nightmare.
Interest in the last knockings of an unrewarding season has just about evaporated. When you're playing catch up on a short run to the finish line winning is the only game in town and so we look to the heavens in despair.
Oh, and just to add to the general feeling of abject depression Joelinton contrived to get himself booked as we all knew he would and is now banned for United's next two fixtures. If it really matters.
When Howe had his back against the wall after Champions League and derby humiliation and needed a win who did he trust? Well, his actions condemned United's transfer activity last summer when an awful lot of cash was splashed to no effect.
Only Malick Thiaw of his big outfield signings started Howe's game of destiny. There was no Anthony Elanga, no Jacob Ramsey, and above all others no Nick Woltemade or Yoane Wissa.
United spent a mind blowing £124m on the two centre-forwards but having started with Anthony Gordon, a left winger at No 9 recently, this time Howe put his faith in a kid as raw as an under cooked steak.
Will Osula, who United's manager almost sold in January, was preferred and actually gave United the lead on the stroke of half-time. Admittedly it was a scruffy goal - Lewis Miley's cross stuck between his legs as he lay on the ground but he had the quickness of mind to hook the ball into the net.
Just in case anyone thinks United might have been unlucky to lose to a penalty conceded in injury time let me point out that Aaron Ramsdale had to made a terrific double save before the Magpies took the lead in the first half and Jefferson Lerma, who played for Howe at Bournemouth, smashed a header against the crossbar with 20 minutes to go.
No, this was dire and Geordies deserve better from those who represent them. We are all left asking a lot of uncomfortable questions like who really cares amongst a bunch of highly paid, self obsessed footballers? Like what is the future of Eddie Howe who with every game that passes looks more bewildered and lacking in answers?
He has done so brilliantly for us since he came - two Wembleys, two Champions Leagues, a first domestic trophy in 70 years - but has he run his race?
The next six matches may mean little to United's overall stature but, brother, do they matter to Eddie Howe!