Newcastle's agonising wait for a trophy will reach at least the 40 year mark next season but for Kevin Keegan the challenge is only just beginning.
KK vowed bravely to give it a real go against Arsenal and he was true to his word, Newcastle could easily have been in front at half-time at the Emirates as the travelling Toon fans witnessed their best first half performance on the road all season.
That description may sound extremely specific and very much a case of clutching at straws but anybody who has spent their hard earned dosh going to the likes of Reading, Wigan or Derby (take your pick under Sam Allardyce's stint in charge) will know that the football played against the Gunners was crisp, fresh and encouraging considering the long road that lies ahead.
Forget about the national media witch hunt, forget about anybody else who wants to kick United when they are down and hardest of all block out the fact that Newcastle will end the season without a piece of silverware again - this time there won't even be a trophy-less open top bus parade around the city just because we made it to Wembley.
The only thing to remember after the 3-0 defeat at the Emirates is that there could just be some light at the end of the darkest of all tunnels.
The short term analysis for Newcastle is that they haven't scored a goal in 180 minutes and the season looks as good as over.
But at least United players look like they are going about their jobs in the right manner now.
The wingers in James Milner, who is playing on the right, and Damien Duff, playing on the left, are working their socks of to get to that byline and cut the ball across the face of goal or at the very least earn a few corners.
In central midfield Nicky Butt and Charles N'Zogbia strived to give them some service in order for the wide men to feed the likes of Michael Owen and Alan Smith.
Smith worked hard too and at times resisted the temptation to dive in.
In defence Steven Taylor not only showed his strength in the air but he also looked capable of bringing it out of defence, not losing it and finding one of his central midfielders.
And just to show he can still emulate a certain P Albert, who used to wear that number 27 shirt, he also demonstrated he can threaten the goal as well with a great first half chance.
And then you have the full-backs, Stephen Carr and Jose Enrique.
Both players have hardly set St James's Park on fire since arriving on Tyneside and while Enrique's career is in its infancy, he and Carr bombed on tried the odd overlap to test the opposition.
Michael Owen and Smith will have better days in front of goal but the former Leeds man almost grabbed the lead in the first half only to see the ball cleared.
In the second half, Arsenal's class did show but can anybody be too surprised by that?
No team has won at the Emirates all season but there aren't too many teams who have been brave enough to go there and take them on at their own game.
Credit to Keegan he never intended to put 10 men behind the ball and keep the score down, he went their to play and lesser teams won't be able to absorb that and then hit back three times to kill the game.
In some ways that score flattered Arsenal.
Next up, is a rerun of the whole experience again when vital Premier League points will be at stake once more.
Nobody will dare mention the words "relegation" or "battle" in the same sentence but be sure until we can collect the full complement of 40 points, we're going to be looking over our shoulders.
Life might be pretty somber at the moment but in the words of another man with big links to Manchester City, It's Getting Better Man!
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