Match report: Newcastle 1 United 0

The Magpies winger converted Kieran Trippier’s cross in the 55th minute to deservedly put the hosts ahead and they held on under late Reds pressure, which saw Harry Maguire have an effort ruled out for offside.

Alejandro Garnacho also went close during the opening stages of the game but Eddie Howe’s side dominated for large spells and now leapfrog us in the table, moving up to fifth place.

FIRST HALF - REDS RIDE IT OUT

The match got under way in sub-zero conditions in the north-east of England, with the home side unchanged from their point in Paris and United making four alterations to the XI which started the 3-3 draw at Galatasaray.

Eddie Howe’s men were the beneficiaries of an extra day’s rest and the refreshed Magpies roared out of the blocks as they harnessed the raw emotion of the baying Geordie support.

The first chance did come at the other end, as Bruno Fernandes fed the in-form Garnacho, his snatched shot confidently kicked away by the sizeable feet of Nick Pope.

But the Reds then had to weather the black-and-white storm as Andre Onana was called into action, swatting Miguel Almiron’s goalbound effort to safety.

Minutes later, Maguire’s heel prevented Alexander Isak scoring after Aaron Wan-Bissaka had failed to clear, while Jamaal Lascelles’s header was fortunately too wayward to trouble Onana from the resultant corner.

Erik ten Hag’s side needed calm and composure on the ball and a measured pass from Kobbie Mainoo allowed Marcus Rashford to fire a teasing ball across to Garnacho at the far post, although Kieran Trippier did well to head it away from danger.

The England full-back then hammered the crossbar at the opposite end, his free-kick leaving Onana standing initially before it bounced the right side of the line and up into the Cameroonian’s grateful gloves.

There was still time for more goalmouth action in the Reds’ box before the welcome sound of the half-time whistle, as Maguire blocked the ball after a ferocious swing of the boot from Magpies’ defender Fabian Schar.

SECOND HALF – GORDON SCORES ONLY GOAL

The home side picked up where they’d left off, as Luke Shaw was twice required to cut out menacing crosses in the early stages of the second period and Joelinton turned Scott McTominay but rolled his shot straight at Onana.

Newcastle’s pressure was building and, with the Reds unable to find an outlet, it reached a crescendo, as Trippier found space in behind the backline and teed up the oncoming Gordon at the far post to score what would turn out to be the only goal. 

Ten Hag made his first changes on the hour, introducing Antony and Rasmus Hojlund in search of something to turn the tide.

But the hosts had the bit between their teeth and, bar an off-target header from Maguire, the play was still tilted towards the wrong end of the pitch and the minutes were ebbing from the contest.

Wan-Bissaka did superbly well to chest Lewis Miley’s fizzing strike behind for a corner before we finally added to our shots-on-target count when Schar hooked away a volley from the recently introduced Sergio Reguilon.

In diving to reach that shot, Pope injured his shoulder, meaning Martin Dubravka – who played twice for the Reds during a brief 2022 loan spell – was called into action.

The Slovakian’s first duty was to pick the ball out of the net, but it would not count as a goal for the Reds – Maguire had strayed into an offside position prior to diverting Antony’s shot in.

The sight of the assistant’s flag provided a frustrating end, despite nine minutes of stoppage time, to a forgettable night on Tyneside and we must now dust ourselves down for the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford on Wednesday.

MATCH DETAILS

Newcastle: Pope (Dubravka 86); Trippier, Lascelles (c), Schar, Livramento; Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon (Ritchie 90).

Subs not used: Karius, Krafth, Murphy, Dummett, Krafth, Hall, Diallo, Parkinson.

Booked: Joelinton

Goal: Gordon 55

United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka (Reguilon 80), Maguire, Shaw, Dalot; Mainoo (Amrabat 80), McTominay; Rashford (Antony 61), Fernandes (c), Garnacho; Martial (Hojlund 61).

Subs not used: Bayindir, Lindelof, Varane, Pellistri, van de Beek.

Booked: Maguire, Antony