Newcastle 2-0 Man Utd: Eddie's Mags go third after mauling Ten Hag's Mancs
One of the sweetest wins you'll ever see and a performance to be proud of as Newcastle United absolutely battered Man Utd at St James' Park.
After a first half filled with missed chances, we got our reward at the Gallowgate with goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson.
2-0 flattered them. We played Erik ten Hag's side off the park in every department. It was boys against men and the perfect response to last month's cup final defeat, sending us above the Red Devils and in pole position in the race for Champions League football.
The win takes us third, a point clear of Spurs with a game in hand and well clear of Liverpool and Brighton; who both suffered disappointing results just yesterday. It's our third victory on the spin and hands us a huge surge of momentum ahead of upcoming away games against West Ham, Brentford and Aston Villa.
Howe named an unchanged side, sticking by Allan Saint-Maximin, Jacob Murphy and the same midfield three, meaning Joelinton was forced to settle for a place on the bench following his return from a two-game ban.
As expected, Marcus Rashford started for the hosts despite his recent knock, with reported Toon target Scott McTominay coming into midfield in Casemiro's absence.
We were by far the better side the first half and must’ve wondered how we went into the break level. Man Utd posed a threat on the counter in patches, with Sven Botman needed to make one huge interception before a flurry of chances came our way. Isak and Longstaff both had goal-bound efforts blocked - the latter also headed narrowly wide- De Gea made a big double save and Saint-Maximin really grew into the game, creating a host of openings after cutting inside. The biggest opportunity came Willock’s way, who latched onto ASM’s ball across the box but blazed over.
Ironically, ten Hag’s time-wasting Mancs were doing their best to slow the game down, taking an age over goal kicks, throw-ins and milking every foul, with Jason Tindall giving Antony an earful after the annoying Brazilian rolled off pitch from minimal contact. We looked the better side and had to believe we’d find the breakthrough ahead of a second half attacking the Gallowgate.
Thankfully, we did exactly that just after the hour mark, as a brilliant piece of link up play between Isak and Bruno ended with a floated cross to Saint-Maximin. I worried the Frenchman would attempt to score from the angle, but he headed across goal to give Willock a tap-in, sending St James' Park wild and Newcastle into a well-deserved 1-0 lead. The scenes were magical; Willock's celebration, limbs everywhere, Saint-Maximin's show of appreciation to the Gallowgate end and big Dan Burn giving it large.
Two changes followed, seeing Gordon and Joelinton replace Saint-Maximin and Murphy. Both played key roles but a special mention must go to Murphy, who put in another lively display full of good movement, energy and decisiveness on the ball.
Ten minutes later it was so nearly 2-0, as Joelinton headed Trippier's corner off the crossbar before Schar's brave header almost crept in from the rebound. Isak then came off with 10 minute remaining and his replacement, Callum Wilson, made sure of all three points moments later, nodding home Trippier's free-kick. A brilliant moment for him after a few tough months in front of goal and celebrations to remember inside St James' Park, as Man Utd fans headed for the exit after an absolute battering.
Botman was a man mountain, mopping up everything with ease and dominating the anonymous Weghorst, Trippier was back to his best, Burn bullied Antony and Schar soldiered on superbly after a few heavy knocks. Longstaff and Murphy put in more quietly impressive displays, Saint-Maximin's was electric, Isak oozed class and Bruno ran the show with a few moments of magic, but my man of the match was Joe Willock. He remains criminally underrated, delivering endless energy, a huge threat in transition, great work defensively and the goal that inspired us to victory.
What a performance. What a win. What a team. It's April and we're third, on 50 points and on course to qualify for the Champions League if we can keep this up. Next up, a trip to West Ham on Wednesday before we travel to Brentford next weekend. E-I-E-I-E-I-O!
