Newcastle United 1, Manchester United 0
Anthony Gordon scored the winner for Newcastle United as they overpowered a lacklustre Manchester United at St James’ Park.
The Reds continued an unwanted run of games in which they have failed to beat a Premier League away game against a side starting the day in the top eight since October 2021 – against Tottenham under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer – a run of 13 games without winning (10 of them defeats).
And since the Reds beat Newcastle United to the Carabao Cup the Magpies have won all three games, keeping a clean sheet each time, since that day at Wembley.
The injury ravaged Magpies, who dominated the first half and should have scored more before United tried to mount a comeback in the second half, had to field 17-year-old Lewis Miley in midfield and had a threadbare bench after their Champions League exertions against Paris St Germain.
They even lost Nick Pope to a shoulder injury late on to add to their woes.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited, on the other hand, had scored three goals away in Turkey against Galatasaray and could afford to freshen up their side by adding Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Sofyan Ambrabat, and Diogo Dalot to the side with Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo, and Victor Lindelof rested.
But after hammering on the Reds’ door with a multitude of chances – leaving Manchester United with just two shots on goal in the first half – Newcastle took the lead with Gordon finishing off a fine ball from Kieran Trippier to put the home side in the lead.
Antony came on as a second half substitute for Marcus Rashford (who barely did any pressing), thought he had rescued a point with a late strike but it was ruled out for offside as the ball came off Harry Maguire on its way to goal.
In truth an equaliser would have been a travesty as United were utterly outplayed and, despite improving after Antony and Rasmus Hojlund replaced the ineffectual Rashford and Anthony Martial, the Reds deserved nothing from the game.