The former Sporting Lisbon boss - the latest man tasked with restoring the club to the top of English football - spoke before kick-off about the need to be “patient”.
But he had barely settled in his seat at a blustery Portman Road before Marcus Rashford turned in Amad Diallo’s inviting cross, stunning the home crowd.
Ipswich, who started the day in the relegation zone, battled back, earning the equaliser they deserved through Omari Hutchinson just before half-time.
Neither side could find a winner in the second period despite chances at both ends, with the result leaving both managers unsatisfied.
United are a lowly 12th in the Premier League, six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, while Ipswich are still in the drop zone.
Amorim, who cut an animated figure on the touchline, said his players were guilty of over-thinking during the game against Kieran McKenna’s men.
“I think my players were thinking too much,” he told Sky Sports. “We lost some balls without pressure. But they really, really tried and they want this.”
He added: “This week I spoke more (to the media) than I did in four years at Sporting. I just want to work with my players. Nothing more.”
‘Great again’
Before kick-off two United fans held up a home-made sign saying: “Good luck Ruben Amorim, Make our team great again.”
The Portuguese, who replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag, made three changes from the final line-up named by United’s interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy before the international break.
And he changed his formation to play three at the back as widely expected, with England forward Rashford operating as a lone central striker ahead of captain Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho.
United were ahead within two minutes when Diallo surged down the right, shrugging off the attentions of Leif Davis and Jens Cajuste to whip in a cross that Rashford touched home from close range.
Amorim, wearing a black coat and dark trousers, remained impassive in his seat as United’s players celebrated in the corner.
Christian Eriksen flashed wide from just outside the box in the seventh minute after more incisive work from Diallo.
But Ipswich responded well, creating openings of their own and looking the more dangerous team as the half wore on.
The home side should have been level in the 40th minute but Andre Onana somehow kept out a close-range effort from Liam Delap with a strong right hand before Cajuste flashed over the bar.
Ipswich got the equaliser they deserved just before half-time when Hutchinson hit a stinging shot that skimmed off the head of Noussair Mazraoui and beyond the diving Onana.
The watching Ed Sheeran, a boyhood Ipswich fan, celebrated wildly in the stands among the 30,000-strong crowd.
Garnacho had a chance to put United back ahead in the opening moments of the second half but Arijanet Muric got down to his left to keep out the shot.
Onana saved well with his foot from a Delap flick from close range before Cajuste produced a perfectly timed challenge at the other end to cut out a Garnacho pass to Rashford after a swift break.
Amorim threw on Luke Shaw and Manuel Ugarte for Jonny Evans and Casemiro about 10 minutes after the restart but United continued to labour against a team with just one Premier League win all season.
He later introduced forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to add fresh legs to his attack.
Fernandes hit a free-kick just wide of the post from a central area and Onana saved from Conor Chaplin at the other end but neither side found the quality to earn the win.
Amorim is United’s sixth permanent appointment since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after leading to the team to a 20th English title.
At 39, he is the youngest United boss since Wilf McGuinness followed Matt Busby in 1969.
Salah saves Liverpool
Earlier yesterday Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as the leaders survived a scare from lowly Southampton thanks to the Egypt star’s second half double in a 3-2 away win.
Arne Slot’s side had squandered the lead given to them by Dominik Szoboszlai’s second goal this season as Adam Armstrong levelled before the break at St Mary’s.
Mateus Fernandes put bottom of the table Southampton ahead after the interval before Salah sparred Liverpool’s blushes.
Salah coolly netted the equaliser and then held his nerve to stroke home the late penalty that gave him 12 goals in all competitions this season and six in his last five league appearances.
Thanks to Salah’s late heroics, Liverpool have left second placed Manchester City trailing in their wake after the champions’ dismal 4-0 defeat against Tottenham on Saturday.
Slot has made a remarkable start to his time in charge of the Reds, winning 16 of his first 18 games in all competitions.