Report: Newcastle 2 United 0
Manchester United slipped to fourth in the Premier League table, after losing 2-0 to Newcastle United on Tyneside.
After a hotly contested first-half, the Magpies took control in the second and opened the scoring through Joe Willock, who headed home a well-worked move from Eddie Howe’s side.
Despite some resolute defending from Erik ten Hag’s men, the hosts would go on to double their lead through second-half substitute Callum Wilson, who glanced in Kieran Trippier’s pinpoint cross.
Marcel Sabitzer and Anthony Martial went close for the Reds, but the Magpies have now overtaken us in third on goal difference, with 11 games of the season left to play.
As we’ve come to expect in our years visiting St James’ Park, the atmosphere was electric from the first minute, and it was the hosts who could have snatched an early lead but for some resilient defending from the Reds in the opening minutes.
We had our first sight of goal after 10 minutes when Antony displayed some excellent skill down the right to skip past his defender and play in Wout Weghorst, but the Dutchman could only fire into the side netting.
Moments later, David De Gea was on hand to pull off an unbelievable double save to prevent the Magpies from notching. The first came from Alexander Isak’s towering header, before Willock followed in for the rebound but hit it straight at our no.1, who blocked with his legs.
Newcastle quickly turned the tables on us, surging forward in the approach to the end of the half with Allan Saint-Maximin in possession. The Frenchman bided his time before playing the ball across the box for the onrushing Willock, who fired well over De Gea’s goal from close range.
The final opportunity of the half went to the visitors, when Luke Shaw found Antony with a deep corner, which looked like it had come straight from the training ground. However, the Brazilian volleyed his effort over Pope’s goal to ensure the game was all even when the whistle sounded for half-time.
The second 45 began in a similar vein to the first, with both sides eager to find the opening goal. Antony had our first chance, but his long-range effort was tame, and Pope collected with ease.
The breakthrough eventually came in the 65th minute but in favour of the hosts after a well-worked move. Isak kickstarted it after finding Guimaraes in space down the left, with the Brazilian standing the ball up toward the back post. Saint-Maximin was there waiting, heading the ball back across goal where Willock finished off the move to put Newcastle a goal to the good.
After Sabitzer's shot had been deflected away frby Sean Longstaff, a combination of De Gea and second-half substitute Martial prevented the Magpies from doubling their lead at the other end. Our no.1 made a point-blank stop from Joelinton’s towering header, which then hit the bar, before Fabian Schar’s follow-up rattled off the post and clear.
Martial might have equalised following a clever move, but Schar was in the way and the ball looped wide off the Magpies' centre-back.
But despite our best efforts at the back, Newcastle eventually found their way through for their second of the afternoon. Trippier’s teasing ball into the box from a free-kick was headed home by Wilson, who rose highest in a congested box to nestle the ball into the bottom corner.
Ten Hag had made a plethora of attacking changes in a bid to earn something from the game, but it wasn’t meant to be on a difficult afternoon in the north-east for the Reds.
MATCH DETAILS
United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane (Lindelof 83), Martinez (Pellistri 83), Shaw; McTominay (Fred 83), Sabitzer; Antony (Sancho 62), Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst (Martial 62).
Subs not used: Bishop, Butland, Maguire, Malacia.
Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock (Anderson 84); Murphy (Gordon 68), Isak (Wilson 80), Saint-Maximin (Joelinton 68).
Subs not used: Dubravka, Lascelles, Targett, Manquillo, Ritchie.
Scorers: Willock 65, Wilson 88.