Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle: There's only one United!

The sweetest win of the season and our fifth on the spin in all competitions as Newcastle United got the better of Manchester United in comfortable fashion at Old Trafford.

We played them off the park in the first half, showing the confidence of a side who arrived with four wins on the spin as goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton saw us race into a 2-0 lead against a pitiful Man Utd who couldn't lay a glove on on our slick midfield, energised left side and the elusive Isak.

The second wasn't pretty, but we did enough to keep them at bay and saw it out comfortably, with a little help from Hall - who made a few vital blocks - and some classy possession play from Bruno, who showed (again) what a world class midfielder he is.

The victory not only sends us 10 clear of the Red Devils, but up to fifth and just three points behind Chelsea, who lost at Ipswich tonight just as Aston Villa drew at home to Brighton.

A memorable night at the end of a simply outstanding month, where we've won four of four in the Premier League, kept four clean sheets on the spin and scored 13 without conceding in that period. An absolutely perfect response to that 4-2 defeat at Brentford just a few week ago.

Howe named an unnamed XI for this one. Kieran Trippier was fit to start again despite limping off in Boxing Day's 3-0 win over Aston Villa and Tino Livramento was back on the bench after recovering from illness.

It was a dream start and yet another early goal, as Alexander Isak nodded in Lewis Hall's cross to give us the lead just four minutes in. It could and should have been 2-0 sooner, too.

Anthony Gordon's back-post effort flew over and Alexander Isak wasted a huge chance from a one-on-one position, opting to dink it at Onana when slipped clean through by Bruno, who ran the show in an utterly dominant first half display.

At one stage we had 65% of the ball and seven shots to Man Utd's zero and deservedly doubled the scoreline through Joelinton just before the 20-minute mark. Gordon's cross was inviting and Joelinton bundled it home via his head and shoulder, taking our tally to 16 goals scored and only one conceded since that 4-2 beating at Brentford earlier this month!

It should've been 3-0 before the break, as Tonali smashed the post from close range and Isak had a second goal chalked off for offside, but we did ride our luck right before the half-time whistle, as Schar's complacent giveaway was not punished by Casemiro.

That complacency could not be allowed to creep back in and would (hopefully) serve as a warning sign as we moved 45 minutes away from just our second Premier League win at Old Trafford.

It was a sloppy start to the second half, handing the home side some encouragement in the first five minutes, then we had an injury scare just before the hour mark as Kieran Trippier went down holding his hamstring. He came back on and looked ready to continue, but Howe made the change and brought on the well-again Tino Livramento moments before two vital blocks from Lewis Hall and Harry Maguire header that rattled the post.

We had to get out, get back on the ball and settle down in a game we'd been dominating before the break, or risk this turning into an ugly final 30 minutes. Thankfully, we did calm ourselves down and grabbed back some control as Isak, Tonali and Bruno all showed their class to once again run rings around the Reds, helping us to a much-needed period of possession as we entered the final 20.

On 80 minutes, Schar received the yellow card we were all hoping he'd avoid, meaning he is now suspended for our game at Tottenham later this week. A shame, but it may not come at the worst time IF one of Sven Botman or Emil Krafth are fit enough to return. If not, it'll be Lloyd Kelly alongside Burn in the capital.

Hall was sensational at left-back, impressing all night at both ends, but Gordon also deserves huge praise for his defensive contribution, work rate and running to snuff out Diallo; the former Sunderland loanee was was never allowed to get into the game.

On that note, Gordon was given five minutes off along with Murphy, who were both taken off and replaced by Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock as the clock hit 85.

"You've seen United now **** *** home followed" from the travelling Toon Army as those in Red trudged out and that was that. A 2-0 win and our first victory at Old Trafford since Yohan Cabaye's winner sealed a 1-0 win back in 2013!

Next up, a trip to Spurs in Saturday's early kick-off before we travel to Arsenal next Tuesday for the first leg of our Carabao Cup semi-final.

Newcastle XI: (4-3-3): Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno (c), Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon. SUBS: Vlachodimos, Barnes, Willock, Osula, Kelly, Livramento, Almiron, Miley, Longstaff.

Man Utd XI (3-4-3): Onana - De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez (c) - Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot - Amad Zirkzee, Hojlund. SUBS: Bayindir, Kukonki, Malacia, Yoro, Collyer, Mainoo, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.

HWTL.