Chris Smalling saw a header hit the post late on, while substitute Javier Hernandez was denied by Krul
Bastian Schweinsteiger made his first start for United but was replaced by Michael Carrick after 59 minutes
New signing Florian Thauvin made his debut off the bench and came within inches of scoring late on
Result leaves United on seven points from their opening three games, while Newcastle are without a win
Ed Woodward took a break from being rejected by the world's leading players on Saturday to watch Manchester United struggle to an insipid, discouraging draw with Newcastle. United made Newcastle look good. Maybe it's time for United's executive chairman to get back on a plane.
Back to Barcelona to step up United's supposed pursuit of Neymar. And, while he's there, maybe hop up to Madrid to have another go for Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. And perhaps he ought to stop off in Paris on the way back to hook up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Thomas Muller in Munich is supposed to be on his list, too.
United had a fine start to their summer in the transfer market but their successes have dried up and as stars like Sergio Ramos and Pedro have turned their backs on Old Trafford, so the optimism surrounding United's prospects has stalled.
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney slots the ball past Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul but his effort was ruled offside
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor appeals for offside as Rooney finds the back of the net in Saturday's early kick-off at Old Trafford
Replays showed that the decision was marginal as Rooney latched onto a perfectly-weighted through ball from Adnan Januzaj
Rooney, pictured wiping his face, is yet to score for United this season despite playing as a striker in each of their three matches
Newcastle goalkeeper Krul denies Manchester United substitute Javier Hernandez a goal towards the end of the game with a fine save
United's executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is pictured in the stands after missing out on the signing of Pedro from Barcelona
They need a spark from somewhere. The pragmatic, uneven league victories over Spurs and Aston Villa gave way on Saturday to a thoroughly disappointing performance against Newcastle United that deserved no more than the point they gleaned from it.
After a bright, dominant start, United slid into a slow, cumbersome mode that is starting to become familiar to their supporters. Wayne Rooney endured his tenth game in a row without a goal. For most of the match, it was hard to see where United's threat was coming from.
Manchester United captain Rooney gets away from Newcastle new boy Aleksandar Mitrovic during the first half
Newcastle United defender Fabricio Coloccini slides in to block a shot from Manchester United forward Memphis Depay
Defender Daley Blind tussles with former Anderlecht striker Mitrovic as Bastian Schweinsteiger looks on at Old Trafford
Substitute Florian Thauvin just fails to get on the end of a low cross from Papiss Cisse as Newcastle fail to grab a late winner
Thauvin, who came off the bench for his Newcastle debut, puts his hands on his head after missing a chance at the end of the game
United are stronger in some areas than they were last season and the arrivals of Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian have strengthened them. But the restocking of the side is far from complete and time is running out as the window begins to close.
United had subjected Newcastle to intense pressure from the opening whistle. Depay, fresh from his heroics against Club Bruges, took aim from all angles, Rooney had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside and nearly played Juan Mata in with a pinball exchange of passes.
For the first 15 minutes, Newcastle barely got a kick. Krul had to dive sharply to his left to push out a low shot from Mata, a Rooney curler went straight into the hands of the Newcastle keeper and Memphis shot tamely at Krul as he cut in from the left.
But for all United's pressure, it was Newcastle who came closest to taking the lead midway through the half. Aleksandar Mitrovic rose majestically to beat Darmian to a cross from the United left and crashed a superb header against the face of the bar.
The mood of the game shifted then. United began to look bereft of ideas, misplacing passes, running into trouble, shooting aimlessly. Newcastle grew in confidence.
Their team looked raw and disjointed but it is full of pace and their forwards, particularly Perez, began to cause United some discomfort. With Colback pressing Schneiderlin effectively and Schweinsteiger ineffectual, Newcastle came into the game more and more as the interval approached.
Memphis was increasingly guilty of squandering opportunities. The magic of Wednesday night left him for a while. When he advanced on goal on the stroke of half-time, Rooney peeled away on the right but the Dutch winger went it alone and was promptly dispossessed by a fine tackle by Coloccini.
Mitrovic tussles with Blind for an aerial ball as Luke Shaw looks on during the first Premier League match of the weekend
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal looks towards his assistant Ryan Giggs after his side's frustrating 0-0 draw
Summer signing Depay skips around Newcastle goalkeeper Krul before failing to pick out attacking partner Rooney
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Schweinsteiger takes a touch as Newcastle's Jack Colback puts him under pressure
Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero launches himself into the air to try and thwart Newcastle's Gabriel Obertan
Defender Daley Blind has a shot at goal as Manchester United attempt to open the scoring in Saturday's lunchtime fixture
Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba tussles with Luke Shaw as he attempts to get away from the Manchester United left back
United's listlessness drifted on into the second half and Schweinsteiger, who had looked troubled since an awkward challenge from Gabriel Obertan, was soon replaced by Michael Carrick. As full debuts go, the German's was something of a false start.
United did begin to exert more pressure on their visitors in the closing stages and substitute Javier Hernandez was denied in the 79th minute when he burst through in goal. His left foot shot was heading inside Newcastle's left hand post before Krul stuck out his left leg to divert it wide.
Chris Smalling hit the post with a header from an injury time corner and Newcastle went desperately close to grabbing the winner when they counter-attacked. Woodward's air miles account is about to get even healthier.
Spanish midfielder Juan Mata bursts away from Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez during a goalless first half at Old Trafford
Morgan Schneiderlin is held back by Newcastle new boy Georginio Wijnaldum as the pair battle for the ball in the middle of the pitch
Former Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren shouts instructions to his players on his return to Old Trafford
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling grabs the shirt of Newcastle skipper Coloccini during the second half
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