IT might not quite make up for the pain of losing at Wembley, but if Newcastle United’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United helps secure a top-four finish come the end of the season, it will not exactly be a bad consolation prize. A place in the Champions League just about trumps the Carabao Cup.
The Magpies are up to third having leapfrogged both today’s opponents and Tottenham, with second-half headers from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson having secured a first win over Manchester United since 2019.
Willock missed a couple of excellent opportunities in the first half, but couldn’t fail to find the net as he stooped to head home from inside the six-yard box in the 65th minute, with Wilson confirming the win when he left the bench to convert a headed opportunity of his own with two minutes remaining.
Newcastle’s vibrant attacking display stood in marked contrast to the limp performance that enabled Manchester United to triumph at Wembley just over a month ago, with the Magpies exploiting the absence of the suspended Casemiro to completely dominate midfield.
Eddie Howe’s decision to stick with Jacob Murphy and Allan Saint-Maximin as his wide-men rather than recall either Joelinton or Anthony Gordon was vindicated by a bright attacking display from both wingers, who set the tone for Newcastle’s dominant performance as they took the game to the Manchester United defence from early on.
Murphy was heavily involved in the 16th-minute opportunity that would have resulted in Newcastle taking the lead had it not been for an excellent double save from David De Gea, swinging over a cross from the right. De Gea did superbly to parry Alexander Isak’s initial header, and then was in the right place at the right time to block Willock’s follow-up shot.
Willock’s driving runs into the area were a key feature of Newcastle’s attacking play all afternoon – as, initially at least, was his wasteful finishing – with Sean Longstaff also getting in on the act as he burst into the 18-yard box to meet Saint-Maximin’s cross midway through the first half, only for his header to flash narrowly wide of the post.
Manchester United’s players spent most of the opening 45 minutes trying to halt Newcastle attacks, although the visitors threatened sporadically through Antony and Marcus Rashford, who was passed fit to start despite having been forced to pull out of the England squad last month.
Dan Burn’s running battle with Antony was an entertaining subplot to proceedings – the Magpies full-back tended to get the better of his opponent as they tangled close to the touchline – and with the home side’s players continuing to show plenty of attacking intent, the chances kept on coming. Unfortunately, there was no one in black-and-white with the required composure to make the most of them.
Willock was especially wasteful five minutes before the break, blazing a first-time shot over the bar from ten yards out after Saint-Maximin rolled an intelligent square ball into his path.
With Fabian Schar drilling a long-range shot wide ten minutes after the interval, Newcastle’s inability to hit the target was becoming a source of mounting frustration. Thankfully, when their next opportunity presented itself midway through the second half, it was impossible to miss.
Isak’s slide-rule pass sent Guimaraes scampering into the right of the area, and the Brazilian stood up a cross to the back post. Saint-Maximin headed the ball back across goal, and from two yards out, Willock was able to stoop to head into the net.
St James’ Park exploded, and the home crowd were almost cheering a second goal with 14 minutes remaining. Joelinton got up to meet Kieran Trippier’s corner, but De Gea pushed the substitute’s goal-bound header onto the crossbar.
The Manchester United goalkeeper was beaten for a second time with two minutes remaining though, with Wilson getting ahead of Victor Lindelof to head home Trippier’s free-kick.
Shambolic display from United.