Newcastle United 0, Manchester United 2
Second half goals by Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford earned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his 4th Manchester United win in a row at Newcastle United.
Embed from Getty ImagesSolskjaer joined Sir Matt Busby as one of only two Manchester United managers to win their first four league games as the feel-good factor continued under the Norwegian with victory at Newcastle United.
Solskjaer forged a formidable reputation as a goalscoring super-sub under Sir Alex Ferguson and his second half tactical switch to introduce Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez paid off as Lukaku scored within a minute of coming on while Sanchez laid on the a late second for Rashford.
It was the second time in two games that Lukaku has come off the bench to score for United – he scored the Reds’ fourth against Bournemouth – as Solskjaer’s Reds goal tally went to 14 goals in 4 games.
There were just three changes from the victory over the Cherries, with Phil Jones coming in in for the suspended Eric Bailly, Juan Mata replacing Jesse Lingard while Antonio Valencia, starting a Premier League game for the first time since September, replaced Ashley Young.
Newcastle United proved to be stubborn adversaries for the Reds with chances for Christian Atsu and Salomon Rondon keeping David De Gea on his toes with the latter almost capitalising on an error by Phil Jones.
Anthony Martial hit the side netting while Rashford couldn’t beat Martin Dubravka in a frustrating first half for United until both Martial and Mata were replaced by Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
Within a minute Lukaku had stabbed home from 5 yards after Martin Dubravka, who had thwarted United last season, winning 1-0 at St James’ Park, had spilled Rashford’s free kick in the six yard box.
The big Belgian reacted first after being on the pitch only 40 seconds and stabbed the loose ball home from five yards out in the 64th minute.
Paul Pogba was furious after being scythed down by Jonjo Shelvey but he had the last laugh after United broke late on.
Pogba robbed Isaac Hayden as Newcastle pushed for an equaliser and following a swift break Lukaku and Sanchez combined to lay the ball on for Rashford to finish from ten yards out to end the Newcastle resistance after 80 minutes.