It was a disastrous performance.
Manchester United lost 0-1 to Newcastle United in the 14th round of the 2023-24 Premier League (PL) at St. James’ Park in Newcastle, England, at 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The result leaves United in seventh place in the league with eight points (24), while Newcastle is fifth in the league with eight points (two draws), ahead of Tottenham Hotspur (26).
[Match Preview] A clash of two injury wards
After finishing third and fourth in the league last season, respectively, both teams have struggled somewhat this season. First, United hasn’t been at 100% since the beginning of the season, with a string of injuries. From Lisandro Martinez to Mason Mount, Luke Shaw to Christian Eriksen, United have lost key players to injury.
They’ve struggled away from home against top teams. United have lost to Tottenham, Arsenal, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and most of the teams in the top 10 this season. Of their six defeats, four have come away from home.
United have not won two games in a row. They lifted their spirits in November when they won three straight league games and kept three consecutive clean sheets. However, a 3-3 draw with Galatasaray in the fifth leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group A match on March 30 still leaves them in fourth place in the group.
Mistakes cost them. United took the lead with two early goals in the first half. Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring in the 11th minute, and Bruno Fernandez made it 2-0 in the 18th minute with a stunning mid-range strike.
However, two mistakes by goalkeeper Andre Onana eventually led to a 3-3 draw. The second one, to Hakim Ziyech, was particularly painful. In the end, United picked up a point and remain in fourth place in the group. They will now have to hope for a win in the upcoming sixth leg against Bayern Munich and a draw in the Copenhagen vs Galatasaray matchup.
Their opponents, Newcastle, are also groaning under the weight of injuries. The Magpies have been hit with a string of injuries recently, with Sandro Tonali serving a one-match suspension for gambling. From frontline Callum Wilson to Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, Dan Byrne, Matt Targett, Sven Boatman, and more have gone down with injuries.
Despite the difficulties, Newcastle has been on the rise. After beating Chelsea 4-1 in the league on March 26, Newcastle followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the fifth leg of their UEFA UCL Group F tie to keep their chances of reaching the last 16 alive.
The win over United also extended their unbeaten run to three games. The win was Newcastle’s third straight against United. After winning 2-0 in the league last season, Newcastle defeated United 3-0 in the EFL Cup Round of 16 on February 2. The victory was their third in a row and the first in 101 years against United since 1922.
Marcial vs. Isaac…both teams firing on all cylinders
United lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Anthony Martial was up front, while Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandez, and Marcus Rashford formed the second attacking line. Kobi Mainu and Scott McTominay formed the third line. The back four was a combination of Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Andre Onana wore the goalkeeping gloves.
Newcastle went with a 4-3-3 formation. Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isaacs, and Miguel Almiron formed the back three, while Joel Linton, Bruno Guimarães, and Lewis Miley formed the midfield. Valentino Libramento, Fabi Cher, Jamal Lascelles, and Kieran Trippier were in defense, with Nick Pope in goal.
[First half] Newcastle dominate, keep pounding away…but Maguire defends like a rock
The first half started with Newcastle in control. Newcastle used their left and right wingers to rattle United’s defense. United survived the threat. In the ninth minute, a cross from Gordon was cleared by Dalot, but the ball hit his arm and headed into the goal. He cleared it off the line himself and the goal was saved.
United opened the scoring. In the 10th minute, Bruno’s killer pass from midfield was picked up by Garnacho and he fired a left-footed shot straight at the keeper. Newcastle swallowed their disappointment. In the 17th minute, a cutback from the Guimarães inside the penalty box was met by Almiron with a left-footed finish, but Onana got out to make the save.
Newcastle kept pounding away. In the 18th minute, Newcastle took the lead when Libramento dribbled from the flank into the center of the box, but a defender cleared it away. The ball was played back and Guimarães fired a right-footed shot from the front of the arc that was well wide.
Newcastle hit the ground running. In the 20th minute, Almiron’s cross from the right flank was cleared by Bissaka, but the ball fell to Isaac. He fired a shot from just outside the box, but it was deflected by Maguire. From the ensuing corner, Lascelles’ header sailed high.
Newcastle took their chances. In the 33rd minute, Isaac fired wide with Maguire in front of him. United’s attacking efforts were disappointing. In the 34th minute, a killer pass from Bruno found the path of Wan-Bissaka, but his powerless cross was met by the keeper.
Newcastle were back in the game. In the 35th minute, Almiron’s left-footed curling shot found the far post corner. Newcastle wasted a crucial chance. In the 39th minute, Trippier took a free kick from the edge of the box, but his header hit the post.
United continued to hold on. On a counterattack opportunity in the 43rd minute, a cross from Livramento was cleared off the line by Maguire. Newcastle’s shot from the ensuing corner was also saved by Maguire, and the first half ended with both teams scoreless at 0-0.
[Second half] Gordon opens the scoring, but United can’t muster much of an attack in the second half
Newcastle started the second half on the front foot. Two minutes into the second half, Almiron fired a shot from inside the penalty box that lacked power. Newcastle continued to send in crosses and cutbacks, but the United defense was able to clear them away.
United looked to turn the tide. Five minutes into the second half, on a counterattack, Bruno fooled Schurrle with a light challenge. A foul was drawn, but the referee didn’t issue a warning. Newcastle continued to take control. In the 10th minute of the second half, Joelinton fired a shot from the right flank from the front of the arc, but it was headed straight at Onana.
Newcastle’s efforts finally paid off. After pressing forward, Newcastle attacked quickly. Isaac’s loose ball was cleared off the line by Guimarães, who sent a pass to the onrushing Trippier, whose grounded cross into the box was headed home by Gordon for the opening goal.
Newcastle stayed in control. In the 13th minute of the second half, Shearer unleashed an unstoppable mid-range shot that sailed over the bar. United finally broke through. In the 16th minute, Mourinho took off Martial and Rashford for Rasmus Højlund and Anthony.
Schurrle committed a dangerous foul. In the 22nd minute, Schurrle stomped hard on Bruno’s foot while dribbling a long ball. But the video assistant referee (VAR) didn’t work. Bruno was treated and returned to the field.
The game entered a lull. In the 26th minute of the second half, Trippier unleashed a surprise mid-range shot that went wide of the goal. The first warning of the day was issued. In the 32nd minute, Maguire made a deep tackle on Gordon and the referee immediately produced a yellow card.
United had a crucial shot blocked. In the 33rd minute, a cross from the left flank was met by Miley in the box, but Wan-Bissaka got his body in front of the goal to block it. In the process, he was struck in the chest and the ball hit his arm, but the referee ruled there was no intent after consulting the VAR.
United took out two substitutions. In the 35th minute, Wan-Bissaka and Mainu were taken off for Sergio Reguilon and Sofiane Amrabat. United upped their game. In the 37th minute, the ball was cleared by the defense from a corner kick and Leguillon fired a left-footed volley that Russelles stretched out to block. From the ensuing ball, Maguire shot again, but this time the defense was there to make the save. 캡틴토토 도메인
A change of pace. Pope was the only goalkeeper to be injured in the United attack, and Martin Dubravka replaced him in the 40th minute. United opened the scoring. In the 44th minute, Bruno sent in a cross after Shaw collected a pass from behind. The defense cleared it away, but Anthony got a hand on it and shot. However, the goal was disallowed as Maguire was called offside in the process.
Nine minutes of second-half stoppage time were awarded. As United pushed forward in stoppage time, Newcastle looked to counterattack through Isaac. United made a last-ditch effort, bringing Maguire up front. However, they were unable to create a decisive chance until the final whistle. In the end, the game ended with a 1-0 win for Newcastle.
Gordon, who scored the game-winner, told TNT Sports after the game: “It’s amazing to win today. It’s been a huge week for us. We’ve had some great moments, we’ve had some tough losses, but we’ve gotten through it as a team. I’m happy that we got the result as a team. Not only the injured players, but all the players who played have niggles. I have bruises on my legs. I know how hard we play for each other, so a win today is very important.”
“I think they defended well in the first half, so we had to find different ways to get past them,” Gordon admitted. It was a great goal, a great play, a great pass and a great finish.”
Head coach Eddie Howe was also pleased with Gordon’s goal: “From the first day he came to the club, you could see the passion and the desire to succeed. He works hard every day. He was very good against Wan-Bisaka, against a good defense, but he scored and I’m glad he’s getting the recognition he deserves.”
Coach Eric ten Haag was not too shaken by the defeat: “The first half was tough, but at halftime he said he was happy to be in the game. It was good at the end of the game. We will talk about this tomorrow. We had a couple of chances. We thought we scored a goal, but it was offside. We thought we scored a goal, but it was offside.” He ended the interview on a more positive note.
