Edinson Cavani salvaged a point but there will be an Old Trafford inquest after a comically bad first half display.
For 45 minutes this was worse than anything under sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Bullied all over the pitch by bottom three Newcastle, Rangnick got the shape of his team wrong, and the attitude of his players stank out St James’ Park.
It took sub Cavani’s 70th minute strike, after a slightly improved second half, to prevent an embarrassing defeat,
Eddie Howe was delighted with the spirit on show that demonstrated the progress he has made, but the Geordies still conceded their 80th league goal of 2021, a new all time record.
It was the visitors’ first game for 16 days after COVID cancellations. Rangnick “didn’t like the body language” during their faltering win against Norwich last time out.
But this was way worse. United looked like a team ending a long lethargic holiday, rattled players moaning at each other, unable to do the basics, and being bullied by a transformed Newcastle.
Allan Saint-Maximin the damage early scoring his fourth of the season, stunning Rangnick’s side in the seventh minute.
Newcastle’s front foot pressing had not paid off since Howe changed their style, with some heavy defeats, but it did here, nicking the opener because Sean Longstaff robbed Raphael Varane 35 yards out.
He fed French winger Saint-Maximin, who Howe said had to link up better with his team mates, and the 24 year old skipped past Diogo Dalot and inside Harry Maguire’s weak challenge.
David De Gea couldn’t get near his shot which drifted inside the far post.
It capped an awful start for the Old Trafford giants, who had misplaced passes and looked rattled, as the Geordie faithful turned up the volume.
England defender Maguire had already made an error to let Ryan Fraser break, which lifted the home crowd.
Rangnick was without Victor Lindelof who was a COVID victim, and needed to start clawing back the gap with Arsenal in fourth spot, who had won three league games since United last played.
But was Howe’s men who had the energy and thunder, despite losing 0-4 to Manchester City before Christmas.
Jonjo Shelvey broke unchallenged and rifled a shot that De Gea saved at full stretch.
Manchester’s first half hour was summed up when Cristiano Ronaldo took an air-shot and was mercilessly jeered.
A minute later Varane played a hopeless sideways ball to Longstaff and then Harry Maguire fouled Wilson to break up the attack.
Rangnick went ballistic on the touchline at the errors he was witnessing. Wilson then had a goal disallowed for offside.
In short it was a nightmare first half for visitors, and the best half under Howe, tainted by Callum Wilson limping off injured.
It was feisty, competitive and aggressive from the home side, making a mockery of their bottom three plight.
The other United were disjointed, and out of sorts, with the delicious sight for Geordies of Joelinton nutmegging Marcus Rashford.
Mason Greenwood and Fred were hooked at half time, for Edinson Cavani and Jadon Sancho, but any of them could have been hauled off.
Saint-Maximin then missed a sitter, firing a shot straight at De Gea from five yards after good work from Emile Krafth. It should have sealed the points.
But the half-time formation change added much needed width.
Ronaldo smashed into Ryan Fraser and was lucky only to get a yellow card. There was no VAR check.
Then at last United did something effective and got level after 70 minutes. Sub Cavani connected well with Dalot’s cross, and poked home at the second attempt.
It took a wonder-save from David De Gea to deny Miguel Almiron at the death after Jacob Murphy hit the post.
