Newcastle 1 Man Utd 0
The Magpies welcomed the Red Devils to St James’ Park with many pundits saying Man Utd were the form team in the league. In reality, ten Hag’s side had only been getting scratchy wins against sides in the bottom half of the table in their winning streak.
It was an electric atmosphere on Tyneside and Gordon started in dangerous mood as he looked to play a ball into the box. It seemed misplaced and of no danger but then the Old Trafford Chuckle Brothers of Dalot and Onana nearly changed all of that.
The defender tried to flick it clear instead of leaving it to their calamitous keeper, with his kick hitting his own hand and heading towards goal. Fortunately for the visitors he managed to readjust and clear and VAR did not see it as a handball.
However, this just gave the hosts more confidence and Joelinton cut it back from the byline to Almiron who tried to side foot an effort into the corner. Onana got down to save but in his unique style, he palmed it away in dramatic style rather than just gathering it.
Credit: @NUFC
The Magpies created an even better chance when Almiron’s cross wasn’t dealt with and dropped to Isak in the box but his shot deflected wide for a corner when he really should have scored. From the resulting corner Isak pulled it back into the box but Lascelles headed it over.
Schar then picked up the ball and ran towards the box but was chopped down by Maguire. As ever, he complained about the decision but when you see the replay you must wonder whether he has had a major head trauma if he actually believes what comes out of his mouth.
Trippier took the free kick, which struck the underside of the crossbar, rebounding back out into play. Livramento was causing problems down the left and his cross deflected off Maguire and ended up in the side netting. Close to an own goal for the Man Utd man with his keeper wrongfooted.
The second half started with Newcastle on the front foot once again. Finally, Trippier got down the right and squared a perfect ball to the back post for Gordon to slot into an empty net. It was nothing more than the hosts had deserved.
Erik ten Hag was sat in the dugout with his flat cap on looking like the worst character Last of the Summer Wine’s creators ever dreamt up. He was shaking his head in disbelief at what he was seeing from his side on the pitch.
Schar then went into a challenge with Fernandes and his standing foot caught the Portuguese midfielder. As you would imagine, he went down in his usual style like it was a career-ending injury. VAR reviewed it and decided there was no issue.
Credit: @NUFC
That then spurred what is now known as the Man Utd captain’s trademark. Arms being thrown around, complaining to officials and telling the opposition players what he thought of them. When the chips are down, he does not seem the sort of person who can lift a team as skipper.
Joelinton did well again to get to the byline and his cross found Almiron whose shot was blocked, stopping a certain goal. The Newcastle players demanded a penalty for handball. The replay showed it was in fact a great block by Wan-Bissaka.
As Man Utd desperately tried to find an equaliser, a Reguilon shot from the edge of the box was heading towards goal before Schar hacked it clear. Pope had already committed to his dive and seemed to land awkwardly, immediately calling to the bench.
The Magpies’ keeper had to be substituted as he appeared to have dislocated his shoulder in the process. Dubravka came on for the final moments of the game as the hosts looked to hold on for all three points.
Ten Hag’s side huffed and puffed and when Antony struck an effort into the back of the net, the visitors celebrated like they had won the league. Never a good idea in the modern game as all goals are then reviewed by VAR.
The replay showed that his shot had deflected in off Maguire who was stood in an offside position. As a result, the goal was rightly ruled out and Eddie Howe’s side held on for one of the most dominant one-nil wins you will see this season.
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