After a rampant second half at St James’ Park, Newcastle United secured their first league double over Manchester United since 1930-31, netting four goals in a league game against the Red Devils for the first time since September 2001.
The hosts took the lead midway through the first half after a splendid assist from Alexander Isak set up Sandro Tonali to open the scoring on the volley. Ruben Amorim’s side managed to level the game just before half time after Alejandro Garnacho finished an impressive counter-attack.
The Magpies clinically saw off the away side after the break, capitalising on a series of mistakes by Manchester United. Harvey Barnes scored a brace, whilst Bruno Guimarães netted a fourth for Newcastle after yet another howler from a Manchester United goalkeeper.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
With Eddie Howe missing through illness, Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones took charge of Newcastle United’s clash against Manchester United, naming an unchanged side from their 3-0 victory over Leicester City last time out. Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim made wholesale changes to his team following their 2-2 draw away to Lyon in the Europa League, including Premier League debuts for goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and academy graduate Harry Amass.
The Magpies made a bright start and had the ball in the back of Manchester United’s net less than a minute into the match. Joelinton tucked home Kieran Trippier’s first time cross, but the full-back was immediately flagged for offside by the linesman to rule out a quick opener for the home side. Jacob Murphy also went close moments later after his powerful low-driven strike whistled past the post from 20 yards out.
Amorim’s side generated their first chance of the match in the 12th minute after a clever sequence of passes on the edge of the box between Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee, which saw the latter get a fierce strike off at goal that was palmed away by the outstretched arm of Nick Pope.
After opportunities for both sides, it was Newcastle who took the lead in the 24th minute. Manchester United carelessly lost possession in their own half, allowing Trippier to initiate an attack by fizzing a pass into the feet of Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker’s first touch unintentionally looped up but he innovatively lifted the ball over Lenny Yoro and into the path of Sandro Tonali, who struck a sweet volley into the ground and past Bayindir.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs the home side pushed to double their lead, Tino Livramento put in a dangerous cross from the left-hand side, which was pushed away by Manchester United’s goalkeeper but only to the prolific Isak. Newcastle’s top scorer got a shot away but Bayindir redeemed himself by blocking the effort to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Against the run of play, the Red Devils equalised in the 37th minute after a devastating counter-attack. Manuel Ugarte won the ball for Manchester United and freed Diogo Dalot down the the right wing. The Portuguese right-back drifted inside before laying the ball off for Alejandro Garnacho, who slotted an inch-perfect shot past Pope to draw the away side level.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Magpies got off to the perfect start after the interval and retook the lead through Harvey Barnes in the 49th minute. Livramento’s searching cross travelled all the way across the box to Murphy at the back post, who squeezed the ball back for Barnes to tap home for his second goal in consecutive matches.
Barnes then doubled his tally in emphatic fashion as he put his side 3-1 ahead just past the hour mark. He dispossessed Noussair Mazraoui and went on a penetrative run through the heart of Manchester United’s defence, before nestling a strike into the top corner.
Embed from Getty ImagesNewcastle were gifted a fourth goal in the 77th minute courtesy of yet another Manchester United goalkeeping error. Bayindir failed to stake a claim to retain his spot in goal as his attempted chip pass was intercepted by Joelinton, who headed the ball into the stride of Bruno Guimarães. The Newcastle captain calmly finished into the bottom corner to wrap up the three points for the Magpies and seal a third consecutive home win over Manchester United in the Premier League.
Newcastle, with a game in hand, are up to fourth place in the league and have bolstered their chances of securing UEFA Champions League qualification. They host Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, with the chance to climb above Nottingham Forest, whilst Ruben Amorim’s side welcome Lyon on Thursday evening for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe lineups
NEW: Pope; Livramento, Burn, Schär, Trippier; Joelinton, Tonali, Guimarães; Barnes, Isak, Murphy
MUN: Bayindir; Amass, Yoro, Lindelöf, Mazraoui, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Garnacho, Zirkzee, Fernandes
