MAN UTD 0, NEWCASTLE 2
Manchester United created further unwanted records in the wake of the home defeat by Newcastle United.
It was another dismal night for the Reds after they suffered a sixth loss in December – the last time they lost six in a calendar month was back in 1930.
This was also a third successive home league defeat which last happened in February 1979 and a third consecutive home loss in all competitions which was last inflicted in 1962/63.
It is the first time United have lost three league games in a row without scoring since May 2015. That’s also five league defeats in the same month for the first time since September 1962.
They are finishing a calendar year lower than seventh in the table for the first time since 1989, when they were 15th.
Their tally of 22 points after 19 matches means United set a new club record for the lowest points at the halfway stage of a Premier League season, beating their previous mark of 28 in 2019-20.
New head coach Ruben Amorim has suffered five defeats in his first eight league games. That is the worst record for a United manager in 103 years.
First-half goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton inflicted the latest loss which leaves United 14th and only seven points clear of the relegation places with leaders Liverpool away their next fixture on Sunday.
With bottom-three side Ipswich beating high-flying Chelsea, United are suddenly too close for comfort to the relegation places.
By contrast, Newcastle are on a roll as this was a fifth straight win, four of which have been in the Premier League as they climbed to fifth with a top four place in their sights.
This was also only a third win in their last 57 league visits to Old Trafford following on from victories in 1971/72 and 2013/14.
These are challenging times for new head coach Ruben Amorim who has suffered six defeats in their last eight games – the derby victory at the Etihad a distant memory.
Embed from Getty ImagesAmorim, who admitted their plight is ‘embarrassing’, said: “There were some improvements in my first games against City, Tottenham and Arsenal, but we lost it because of the lack of training time. I have not had the time to build the base, and it is hard at the moment.
“It is also my fault we have not improved, The team is a bit lost at the moment. It is embarrassing to me as coach when we lose. I feel it.
“I have to sell my idea – I don’t have another one and have to teach what I know.
“It is really hard. It is one of the worst moments in the history of our club, and we have to accept that. Another loss in front of our own supporters.
“In the second half they really tried, it was more like the value of the team. We were close to scoring once but they were better.
“Yes, we are [too easy to score against] but also in some moments we had some chances to score and didn’t and that also makes a difference.”
Amorim, asked whether this season may be a battle to avoid relegation, said: “I think that it is a possibility, and we have to be clear with our fans. We have to change something, but this season will be really hard on everybody. It can make us stronger, and we have to fight.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: “We knew the hurt this fixture has had historically, something which was no lost on us.
“It was a big step psychological. We need to win games like this to get where we want to be.
“We knew our early season form was patchy, and we couldn’t find the missing ingredient.
“Now we have returned to the level where we want to be, and the challenge is to stay at it.”
Howe added their display in the opening half hour was as good as it has been.
“We knew in the second half it would be on a knife edge if they scored. We didn’t look like scoring but managed to play it out,” he explained.
Amorim made four changes to the side that lost against Wolves last time out.
Midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte were suspended so Casemiro and Christian Eriksen replaced them. Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee also came into the side.
Rashford returned to the bench after being completely left out of the last four squads.
Howe stuck with the Newcastle side which beat Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
United made the worst possible start falling behind inside four minutes.
A sweeping move ended with Lewis Hall’s cross deflecting off Noussair Mazraoui and looping up to Isak who scored with a downward header from six yards.
It was his 13th goal of the season and eighth in December for the Swedish sharpshooter.
And it got worse for United when Newcastle doubled their lead in the 18th minute with a carbon copy goal.
This time it was Anthony Gordon who crossed from the left and Joelinton headed home from six yards, this time eluding Lisandro Martinez, as he netted his fourth of the season.
Newcastle had the ball in the net for a third time on the half hour, but Isak was clearly offside.
And they ought to have added a third goal moments later when Bruno Guimaraes set up Sandro Tonali who looked set to score only for his shot to strike the upright.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Amorim responded by hauling off Zirkzee as Kobbie Mainoo made his entrance.
United carved out their first clear-cut chance in the 34th minute when Martinez released Hojlund who raced clear on the left only to shoot narrowly wide.
And they had another great opening in stoppage time after Fabian Schar carelessly gave away the ball to Mainoo who fed Casemiro who fired wide when he looked certain to score.
The introduction of Mainoo made a difference as he galvanised the Reds who were a totally different proposition after the restart as they took the game to Newcastle.
They ought to have halved the deficit just short of the hour when Harry Maguire’s diving header struck the upright from a Diogo Dalot cross.
Amorim made two further changes mid-half as the booked Martinez and Casemiro were replaced by Leny Yoro and Alejandro Garnacho.
Yoro also went close flashing a header wide from Eriksen’s corner,
United’s fourth change with eight minutes left saw de Ligt replaced by Antony, but there was no way back.