Newcastle boss hails great spirit after fightback against Man Utd

A 90th-minute goal from Paul Dummett claimed McClaren’s relegation-threatened side a point from last night’s game at St James’s Park.

The result ended a run of four successive defeats in which Newcastle hadn’t found the net.

“We had to show what we are all about,” said head coach McClaren.

Wayne Rooney had put Louis van Gaal’s side ahead with a controversial penalty, and Jessie Lingard doubled their advantage after referee Mike Dean waved away a penalty appeal from Daryl Janmaat.

But Georginio Wijnaldum set up a comeback with a 42nd-minute strike.

Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled for Newcastle from the spot in the 67th minute before Rooney restored their lead with a late goal.

But Dummett netted from 18 yards in the last minute of normal time to move the club to within a point of Premier League safety.

“We have shown everything there,” said McClaren. “We played football, created chances, we came back, we had to equalise again.

“You can’t underestimate what a monumental effort it is to come back from 2-0 and 3-2. This is how far the team has come this season. Could we have come back from 2-0 then?

“That is the standard we set. Performances have been good. We needed some reward.

“People were saying boing boring (Man) United and that we had questionable character. Neither are true.”

Meanwhile, under-pressure Man United manager Louis van Gaal was furious that his team had thrown away two points.

Van Gaal said: “We were the better team, and that is why it’s frustrating and we lose very expensive points.

“It feels like a defeat. We have given it away.

“I am very disappointed. We are very disappointed. We could have finished the match much earlier, (Jesse) Lingard, (Marouane) Fellaini ... but we didn’t do that. I have said that to the players.”