Newcastle United 1, Manchester United 4
Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Marcus Rashford scored the goals that overturned a shock deficit to beat Newcastle United at a rainswept St James’ Park.
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United were defied for much of this match at St James’ Park by dogged Newcastle United defending and an unlikely draw was on the cards just four minutes from the end before the Reds threw everything at Newcastle and got their reward.
A string of saves by Karl Darlow after Harry Maguire’s equaliser to cancel out Luke Shaw’s second minute own goal looked to frustrated te visitors.
Juan Mata had an earlier equaliser ruled out by VAR before Fernandes saw his penalty saved by Karl Darlow but United saved the match winning goals for the Reds after the 86th minute.
It was a much more fitting scoreline to underline a dominant performance that saw the Reds rain in 28 shots on goal, 14 of them on target with 64% of possession and seven corners to Newcastle’s none.
Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer retained faith in Maguire as skipper after his recent tough times this year but Anthony Martial was suspended following his red card against Spurs.
Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic, and Mason Greenwood were left out of the side that was beaten 6-1 at Old Trafford against Spurs.
There was still no place in the starting lineup for Donny van de Beek as Victor Lindelof, Juan Mata, Daniel James, and Scott McTominay came in to the side.
And United got off to the worst of starts after Luke Shaw put through his own net with a freak deflection at the near post in only the second minute of the game after a cross from the right by Emil Krafth.
United sporadically attacked, but were lacking final quality with Marcus Rashford missing when his shot was deflected over the bar.
But United persevered, keeping up the presssure on the home side and thought they were level in the 19th minute when Bruno Fernandes finished off a cross by James but VAR ruled it out for offside on Mata in the build-up.
The Spanish midfielder was in the side on merit though, and he pulled the strings in midfield
Harry Maguire repays Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faith in him with equaliser against Newcastle United
Karl Darlow saved from the bright Mata before Maguire legally equalised from Mata’s corner with a massive header both for himself and the club.
David De Gea saved from Allan Saint-Maximin after Aaron Wan-Bissaka let him through but collided with the woodwork painfully in bailing out his team mate, going down holding his shoulder.
Newcastle were under the cosh for much of the rest of the first half and they had to rely on Darlow to save shots from Marcus Rashford and James to stay in the game.
Fabian Schar came on early in the second half as the home side shored up midfield with Isaac Hayden making way.
De Gea brilliantly saved from Callum Wilson to keep the Reds on level terms with both sides going at each other.
Rashford tangled with Jamal Lascelles after breaking into the Newcastle area and VAR recommended that Craig Pawson look again as the Magpies won their own free kick up the other end.
Controversy reigned again as Fernandes stepped up but Darlow guessed right and got a hand to the Portuguese midfielder’s spot kick.
Darlow saved from Wan-Bissaka and Rashford was also denied by the Newcastle goalkeeper who bravely stopped the one-on-one chance and ended the game hobbling around having sustained an injury earlier in the game.
De Gea saved a long range effort from Shelvey before Solskjaer made his first change with Pogba coming on for Fred as the Reds with 20 minutes to go in the teeming rain.
Van de Beek soon followed, coming on for James as United tried to capitalise on the Darlow injury and with 4 minutes to go the Reds pressure finally told.
Rashford timed his pass well to put Fernandes clear with 4 minutes to go and the Portuguese made up for his spot kick miss with his first goal from open play from a tight angle – his fourth goal for the Reds with Barcelona and Real Madrid both reportedly watching his progress this year.
Miguel Almiron was sent on for Jeff Hendrick by the home side but Wan-Bissaka made the game safe at the end with his first ever goal driven high beyond Darlow after exchanging passes with Rashford.
The Magpies fell apart with Rashford bending a deserved fourth in for United 6 minutes into injury time after another break and Fernandes released him for his fourth goal of the season.
GOALS – Newcastle United 1, Manchester United 4
Newcastle Utd 1, Man Utd 0: 2. Luckless Luke Shaw deflected a right wing cross by Emil Krafth looping over David De Gea after United lost the ball to allow the Magpies to swiftly counter attack.
Newcastle Utd 1, Man Utd 1: 23. Harry Maguire rose first to reach Juan Mata’s corner and headed the equaliser for the Reds from te set piece.
Newcastle Utd 1, Man Utd 2: 86. Bruno Fernandes was put through by Marcus Rashford who timed his pass well to allow the midfielder to make up for his earlier spot kick miss.
Newcastle Utd 1, Man Utd 3: 90. Aaron Wan-Bissaka exchanged passes with Marcus Rashford and opened his Manchester United account with a well struck goal at the end of a good United move to finish off the Magpies.
Newcastle Utd 1, Man Utd 4: 90+6. Marcus Rashford bent in United’s fourth goal after Bruno Fernandes released him.
MATCH STATS – Newcastle United 1, Manchester United 4
Newcastle Utd: Darlow, Krafth, Lascelles, Fernandez, Lewis, Hendrick (Almiron 88), Shelvey, Hayden (Schar 49), Saint-Maximin, Joelinton (Fraser 72), Callum Wilson
Newcastle Utd subs not used: Gillespie, Carroll, Manquillo, Murphy
Booked: Krafth
Goal: Shaw og 2
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred (Pogba 70), Mata (Matic 90+2), Fernandes, James (Van de Beek 76), Rashford
Man Utd Subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, Ighalo, Telles
Booked: James
Goals: Maguire 23; Fernandes 86; Wan-Bissaka 90; Rashford 90+6
Referee: Craig Pawson