Manchester United's victory against Newcastle was a rare moment of positivity for manager Erik ten Hag. "It is a victory and I was pleased with the performance of the team," Ten Hag remarked.

"Playing against Newcastle is always challenging due to their physicality, but we played good football and scored some excellent goals, particularly the first one which was a nice team effort. With more players available now, we have a stronger bench."

For once, Ten Hag's post-match press conference was filled with optimism.

Despite Chelsea's 2-1 win over Brighton limiting Manchester United to a potential maximum of seventh place in the table, which would still be their worst finish in the Premier League era, avoiding a record 10th competitive home defeat at Old Trafford was a significant relief for Ten Hag. After a season of struggles, he will take any small victories he can.

However, the performance against Newcastle also raised some questions. Notably, why has it taken so long for Amad Diallo to be given a chance? The 21-year-old Ivorian, who scored an extra-time FA Cup winner against Liverpool in March, had to wait another two months for a Premier League start. 

Diallo was finally selected against Arsenal on Sunday and retained his place against Newcastle, where he delivered an assist for Kobbie Mainoo and scored a powerful goal himself. "Amad has had a difficult season because of a bad injury," Ten Hag explained.

He fought back, his training performances have been very good, and now he’s taken his opportunity. That’s how it should work. There is always internal competition and I am very pleased with his level."

Criticism has been aimed at Ten Hag for his loyalty to the underperforming £85 million signing Antony.

With Antony left on the bench, Diallo seized his opportunity, and he has likely secured a spot in the starting lineup for the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25.

The fans' chants of "Amad Diallo" midway through the second half and subsequent support for Ten Hag, singing "we're on the march with Ten Hag's army," highlighted the positive impact Diallo's performance had on the crowd.

The majority of fans and the club remain undecided about Ten Hag's future. Beating Newcastle has bought him some breathing space after a poor run of form since the end of February.

A decision on his future is expected to be delayed until after the FA Cup final.

After the final whistle against Newcastle, Ten Hag addressed the fans from the center of the pitch, promising that "these players will do everything to win the cup.

His speech was well-received, and after a lap around the stadium, he walked down the tunnel to applause from the supporters who had stayed behind.

"The whole season has been very difficult for the fans," Ten Hag admitted. "We are very pleased with their attitude."

Whether this support will influence the club's decisions remains to be seen. There is a strong argument to dismiss Ten Hag after so many low points, but with crucial games still ahead, particularly the cup final against Manchester City, Ten Hag has opportunities to sway the debate in his favor.

It will take more than a narrow win over Newcastle to convince everyone, but there is, at least, a glimmer of hope that an otherwise forgettable campaign could end on a positive note.

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