Manchester United 0, Newcastle United 2
Manchester United were given a footballing lesson as Alexander Isak and Joelinton scored the goals that helped Newcastle United beat them.
Although they steadied the ship in the second half after a painful first half the visiting fans were asking for the Reds to say hello to Sunderland for them – they are now firmly looking at a relegation battle if results don’t improve after defeat left them in 14th place while the Magpies rose up to 5th.
Alexander Isak and Joelinton scored two easy goals with crosses from the left which exposed shortcomings in the United defence – with Lisandro Martinez left wanting after he could not prevent balls by Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon from reaching their target.
Embed from Getty ImagesIsak could have had a third for Newcastle but for an offside flag but Sandro Tonali hit the post before that and Martinez deflected another shot by the Italian.
The damning sound at 33 minutes was the Old Trafford crowd cheering as Joshua Zirkzee – bullied throughout by Newcastle players – was spared any more embarrassment and Kobbie Mainoo was brought on to help shore up the static United midfield with Christian Eriksen pushed further forward.
Lisandro Martinez lofted the ball up to Rasmus Hojlund but the United striker sent his shot wide of the back post.
The visitors should have been clear in the first half but United were given a chance to bite back in the second half with Mainoo trying to run midfield with help from Alejandro Garnacho and Leny Yoro – who put a header wide of the back post.
Harry Maguire hit the woodwork with a flying header but in truth the Reds could not lay a glove on the hard working visitors in the second half.
Antony replaced Mathias De Ligt as the last roll of the dice with 7 minutes to go – meaning Marcus Rashford would not be able to come off the bench but there was no sign of a late comeback as the Reds succumbed to defeat with Geordie taunts in their ears.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 0, Newcastle United 2
Andre Onana: 5. Let another 2 goals in but stopped one from Lewis Hall. Was obviously targeted for a corner goal when Kieran Trippier took a corner.
Mathijs De Ligt: 5. Exposed several times.
Harry Maguire: 6. Utter frustration at the shambles around him. Flying header came back off the post in the second half as he tried to rally the troops.
Lisandro Martinez: 5. Mismatched up against Alexander Isak and caught napping for Joelinton’s goal too. Blocked Sandro Tonali shot and recovered a little composure in the second half.
Noussair Mazraoui: 5. Unlucky deflection for the goal but couldn’t stop Anthony Gordon for Joelinton’s goal.
Casemiro: 5. Lost Joelinton for the second Newcastle goal. Strolled around and then launched a ball well over the Newcastle bar before missing a sitter after being set up by Kobbie Mainoo.
Christian Eriksen: 5. Ineffective in midfield. Not much better further up the pitch but did create a couple of half chances.
Diogo Dalot: 5. Offered precious little protection to Lisandro Martinez at crucial moments. Cross almost converted by Harry Maguire in the second half.
Amad: 6. Well marshalled by Bruno Guimaraes and targeted for physical treatment by Newcastle but rolled up his sleeves in the second half and got stuck in.
Joshua Zirkzee: 4. Bullied by Newcastle defence, completing just 3 passes, and withdrawn in the first half.
Rasmus Hojlund: 5. Precious little service but sent a golden first half chance wide of the back post and tussled with Fabian Schar in the second half.
Kobbie Mainoo (on for Joshua Zirkzee, 33): 6. More energy for the static midfield, gifted the ball by Fabian Schar and set up Casemiro but his midfield partner missed. Battled in the second half and tried to lead by example.
Alejandro Garnacho (on for Casemiro, 64): 6. Stayed high up but to little effect.
Leny Yoro (on for Lisandro Martinez, 64): 6. Headed wide of the back post from a Christian Eriksen corner.
Antony (on for Mathijs De Ligt, 83): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester United 0, Newcastle United 2
Man Utd 0, Newcastle Utd 1: 4. Lewis Hall’s cross from the left deflected up off Noussair Mazraoui to Alexander Isak who was unmarked and headed the ball into the ground from 6 yards out where the bounce outfoxed Andre Onana and fell into the empty net.
Man Utd 0, Newcastle Utd 2: 19. Anthony Gordon had Noussair Mazraoui on toast and crossed for Joelinton to do the damage with a header from 6 yards out after the Brazilian ghosted into the box leaving Lisandro Martinez in his wake.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 0, Newcastle United 2
Man Utd: Onana, De Ligt (Antony 83), Maguire, Martinez (C) (Yoro 64), Mazraoui, Casemiro (Garnacho 64), Eriksen, Dalot, Amad, Zirkzee (Mainoo 33), Hojlund
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Rashford, Malacia, Collyer, Kukonki
Booking: Martinez 61 (foul on Alexander Isak)
Newcastle Utd: Dubravka, Trippier (Livramento 58), Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Guimaraes (C), Murphy (Barnes 85), Gordon (Willock 85), Isak
Newcastle Utd Subs not used: Vlachodimos, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, S Longstaff, Miley
Bookings: Schar 80 (foul on Rasmus Hojlund)
Goals: Isak 4; Joelinton 19
Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 73,809