Newcastle United dominated Manchester United, winning 4-1 at St James’ Park. The hosts’ impressive performance saw them move into fourth place in the league table, boosting their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. In this article, we will provide an in-depth analysis of the match, including player ratings, match highlights, and statistics.
Match Summary
The early disallowed goal, a mere 50 seconds into the match, served as a warning. Joelinton’s offside strike, though ruled out, showcased Newcastle’s immediate attacking threat. The breakthrough arrived in the 24th minute, a masterpiece of precision and power. Alexander Isak’s exquisite pass found Sandro Tonali, who unleashed a volley that left Altay Bayindir helpless.
Manchester United, however, found a lifeline against the run of play. A slick counter-attack culminated in Alejandro Garnacho’s clinical finish, leveling the scores. But this brief moment of respite was soon shattered. Newcastle’s response in the second half was nothing short of devastating. Harvey Barnes, a constant thorn in United’s side, tapped home a cross just four minutes after the restart. Then, a moment of individual brilliance, as Barnes capitalized on Noussair Mazraoui’s slip, driving through the United defense to score a stunning solo goal.
The final nail in United’s coffin came courtesy of Bruno Guimaraes, who punished Bayindir’s errant pass, sealing a comprehensive victory and a first league double over Manchester United in 94 years.
PLAYER RATINGS
GOALKEEPER & DEFENCE
Altay Bayindir 4 – Not much he could do about the first three goals. All eyes were on him with Andre Onana dropped and he didn’t make any mistakes until the 77th minute when his pass was intercepted by Joelinton before he laid off to Bruno Guimaraes, who fired it into the bottom corner. Bayindir’s distribution was mostly good.
Noussair Mazraoui 3 – At fault for Newcastle’s third. He slipped, allowing Harvey Barnes to break clear and smash the ball past Bayindir. Struggled against Barnes, who had his number for most of the second half. Disastrous outing that he will hope to forget as soon as possible.
Victor Lindelof 4 – Didn’t get close enough to Alexander Isak for the first goal, allowing him to dink it into the path of Tonali. Shaky and lacked confidence or conviction in most of his actions.
Leny Yoro 3.5 – One of his poorer games for United. Also didn’t get close enough to Isak and was unusually sloppy with some of his passes. Bad day in the office for the young Frenchman, who will hopefully learn from it.
MIDFIELD:
Diogo Dalot 5 – Was doing fine and was key in the build-up to Garnacho’s goal but undid most of his good work by letting Livramento easily get past him and deliver a dangerous cross inside the box that resulted in a goal.
Manuel Ugarte 4 – Very limited in possession. Constantly shied away from passing the ball forward, even when the opportunity presented itself. Recklessly gave the ball away for Newcastle’s opener.
Christian Eriksen 4.5 – Just didn’t offer nearly enough. You’d expect more from a seasoned professional like him.
Harry Amass 6 – Decent on his first Premier League start. Tried to be aggressive in his duels and didn’t let a few bad moments deter him. Produced some brilliant footwork at one point to drive his side forward and even aimed a shot early in the second half, even though it wasn’t on target.
ATTACK:
Alejandro Garnacho 7 – Temporarily drew United level with a top-class finish. Looked slightly better and more dangerous on the left before his withdrawal.
Bruno Fernandes 5 – Not as impactful as he usually is. Bar one instance when he combined well with Zirkzee, he didn’t really do much.
Joshua Zirkzee 6.5 – Did well in the striker position. Held up the ball well and had a shot at goal that forced Nick Pope into a save. Sustained what looked like a hamstring injury in the early stages of the second half while on a surging forward run. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.
SUBSTITUTES:
Rasmus Hojlund 5 – Had a few battles with Fabian Schar while trying to hold up the ball but wasn’t really threatening and the Newcastle defenders were comfortable against him.
Patrick Dorgu 5 – Didn’t make a difference really. Could have kept Amass on and it wouldn’t have made a difference.
Mason Mount 5 – Looked bright early on following his introduction but he faded as Newcastle’s dominance over the match increased.
Luke Shaw 5 – Slotted on the left side of the back-three and looked OK. Nice to see him back on the pitch after a very lengthy period on the sidelines.
Kobbie Mainoo 5 – Some nice touches and passes. Game was already done and dusted by the time he was introduced.
Manchester United vs Newcastle Player Ratings
Roy Keane’s Scathing Analysis: “Physically and Mentally Weak”
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane didn’t mince his words, labeling Manchester United “physically and mentally a weak team.” He criticized their lack of fight, their inability to cope with Newcastle’s pace and power, and their overall lack of character. Keane’s assessment echoed the sentiments of many fans, who witnessed a dispiriting performance from their team.
Amorim’s Focus: Moving Forward
Manchester United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, acknowledged his team’s numerous mistakes, highlighting Newcastle’s strength in second balls. He emphasized the need to learn from the defeat and focus on the upcoming Europa League quarter-final against Lyon. Despite the criticism, Amorim remained resolute, stressing the importance of securing Champions League qualification.
The Road Ahead: Champions League Dreams and European Battles
For Manchester United, the focus shifts to their Europa League campaign, a potential lifeline for their Champions League ambitions. However, they must address their glaring weaknesses if they hope to salvage their season.
What is your thought on the match? who is to be blamed? Predict United’s position at the end of the season
(Below is the comment Section, we would like to know your view).
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