Man Utd 3 Newcastle 2
Erik ten Hag’s side welcomed Newcastle to Old Trafford for their final home game of the season. It has been all doom and gloom in Manchester of late with the club ridiculed on the weekend due to the state of the ground during heavy rainfall.
Despite this, United were keen to turn the ‘Theatre of Streams’ into a fortress once again. They needed victory to try and ensure that they would be playing European football next season. Their Dutch manager must still be wondering if he would be in the job past the summer.
The Magpies went to sleep in defence as Amad cut inside from the wing. He picked out a pass to a completely unmarked Mainoo in the box, who took one touch to control it before placing his shot in the bottom corner to give the Red Devils the lead.
Amrabat then gave the ball away on the edge of the box and Gordon ran onto it. Both the Moroccan and Casemiro slid in on the winger, who ended up in a heap on the floor. The referee waved away claims for a penalty and VAR did nothing to intervene. The replay showed there was contact.
Credit: @ManUtd
Premier League clubs are planning on voting next month whether VAR will be scrapped. Based on this decision alone, it certainly should. The people running it are just as incompetent as the officials out on the pitch.
The Magpies almost drew level as the ball was played into the back post and headed towards goal. With Onana beaten, it was cleared off the line and there was no reaction from the referee. Goal line technology is one thing we can trust.
Into the second half and Murphy got forward down the right wing. His inch-perfect cross was tucked home by Gordon to draw the visitors level. It was no more than they had deserved having created the more clear-cut chances in the match.
Eddie Howe’s side then had a huge chance to take the lead. As Wan-Bissaka gave the ball away, Newcastle broke with a three on one overload. It was played into the path of Isak and just as he looked to pull the trigger, Amrabat put in a goal saving sliding challenge.
Man Utd forced a corner and the visitors could only half-clear the ball to the edge of the box. Amad drilled a first-time shot into the bottom corner through a sea of players. Old Trafford erupted as they took the lead once again.
Newcastle nearly drew the game level once again. As a cross came into the box, Joelinton rose to head towards goal. The ball clipped the top of the bar although Onana was happy to claim it was a save, despite no corner being given.
Credit: @ManUtd
Hojlund made an immediate impact from the bench as he got a shot away from the edge of the box. It went through the defender’s legs and nestled in the far corner of the goal. This surely secured all three points for the hosts.
Deep into added time Lewis Hall got a shot away from outside of the box to give The Magpies a glimmer of hope that they could get something from this game. It was his second goal for Newcastle, the first coming at Old Trafford in a cup match earlier in the season.
Man Utd managed to hold on for the win which took them level with Eddie Howe’s side in the league table. Results will be important on the final day as clubs try to secure European qualification, ten Hag will be hoping his side can take some confidence from this win.
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