Eddie Howe's old side do Newcastle a favour despite the best efforts of VAR

Newcastle United overtook Manchester United in the Premier League table after their 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the early kick-off on Saturday.

With Erik ten Hag's side partaking in the later kick-off, Newcastle had a long wait to see if they would remain in sixth place in the league overnight before West Ham take on Fulham on Sunday.

Manchester United were in action down at Eddie Howe's old haunt, Bournemouth with Newcastle fans hoping The Cherries could do us a huge favour by beating the Red Devils.

Despite twice taking the lead, Bournemouth had to make do with a point, which means that Man United didn't manage to get back ahead of Newcastle in the table thanks to the Magpies' superior goal difference.

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The good old 'Big Six bias' was out in force again

In truth, Manchester United should be counting themselves lucky because were it not for a couple of questionable VAR calls, they'd have found themselves coming away from the south coast empty-handed.

Man United were awarded a penalty in the second half for a handball that never was. There was nothing Adam Smith could have done when the ball bounced up and hit his arm in the area, and even when slowed down, the ball looked to strike his sleeve, which, when I were a lad, meant it wasn't a handball. The decision stood and Bruno Fernandes converted to level the score at 2-2.

VAR weren't done messing around though, when right at the end of the game, five minutes into stoppage time, Ryan Christie was brought down in the area with the referee pointing to the spot, only for VAR to rule that the foul took place outside of the box. There must have been millimetres in it, but a free-kick was awarded instead which Bournemouth duly wasted.

Newcastle will be hoping Fulham can do them a favour tomorrow

A draw still worked out well for Newcastle as the Magpies remain in sixth at least until tomorrow where a West Ham win would see them jump above Newcastle and Man United.

Competition for sixth is heating up with just a few games remaining, but Eddie Howe's men will feel they have the momentum right now.

Newcastle and Manchester United meet in the penultimate game of the season which could prove to be very decisive. Who'd have thought we'd still have something to play for at this point of the season after all the bad luck we've endured?