Manchester United recovered from a torrid run of results to down Newcastle 3-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. The Red Devils did not exactly cruise to victory in an end-to-end encounter, but with some help from VAR and their inspired youngsters, Erik ten Hag’s side got over the line, and maintain a slight hope of qualifying for European football next season.
Kobbie Mainoo opened the scoring, as he was found completely unmarked in the penalty area on the half-hour mark, and finished coolly into the bottom corner after a fine pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Just five minutes later, Anthony Gordon burst into the penalty area and went down under the challenge of Sofyan Amrabat, who clearly raked his heel, but VAR opted against intervening after the referee chose not to give a penalty. Later in the half, Casemiro came to the rescue as he cleared a Dan Burn header off the line.
Just three minutes into the second period, Gordon got the goal he deserved, bursting into the box to finish Jacob Murphy’s superb cross. Amad Diallo hit back, however, with a thumping strike from just inside the box from a set piece to restore United’s lead.
And substitute Rasmus Hojlund added a third late on after coming off the bench, holding off his marker and finishing well into the bottom corner. That wasn’t the end of the matter, as Lewis Hall sparked hopes of a sensational comeback from Newcastle with a stunning long-range strike, but it proved too little, too late.
GOAL rates United’s players from Old Trafford…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Andre Onana (6/10):
Well beaten by Gordon’s goal and Hall’s late stunner. Made a big save to deny Longstaff in a one-on-one to keep United ahead, then followed it up with an athletic stop to deny Joelinton.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (6/10):
Played a superb pass for Mainoo’s goal but struggled immensely to keep a handle on Gordon. A rare showing where he was better going forward than in defence.
Casemiro (5/10):
Again asked to play at centre-back. Cleared off the line to keep United ahead in the first half but was nowhere near Gordon for his goal. Always willing to put his body on the line but he has absolutely no pace, and that it didn’t harm United is more by luck than judgement.
Jonny Evans (6/10):
Had no time to react to Murphy’s cross but stood up well to the threat of Isak.
Diogo Dalot (6/10):
Caught out of position as Amrabat failed to control before the equaliser but bombed on throughout. Always willing to provide an outlet down the left.
Midfield
Kobbie Mainoo (8/10):
Seemingly always able to find a yard of space and scored as a result, as he got on the end of Wan-Bissaka’s through ball, completely unmarked in the box, and finished coolly.
Sofyan Amrabat (5/10):
Fortunate not to concede a penalty after a clumsy challenge on Gordon but was forever involved defensively. A loose touch allowed Murphy to cross for Newcastle’s equaliser but he then threw himself in front of an Isak effort to deny him at the last. A busy evening, but not a particularly good one.
Scott McTominay (5/10):
Played as United’s deepest midfielder and was often forced into the backline by the sheer ferocity of Newcastle’s press. Looked uneasy at times, as he was on the periphery of the game.
Attack
Amad Diallo (8/10):
Stung the palms of Dubravka in the first half and showed some flashes of his jinking dribbling ability. Scored a brilliant goal, thumping a half-volley beyond the keeper. A ray of light on the right; he’s got so much ability and so much potential. Deserved his standing ovation on his substitution.
Bruno Fernandes (7/10):
Deployed as a false nine and often dropped off to allow Amad and Garnacho to bomb on. Did at times rob United of a focal point, however, though his range of passing is exceptional and he earned an assist for Hojlund’s late strike.
Alejandro Garnacho (4/10):
Sent through by Fernandes but denied one-on-one by Dubravka at an angle. The least effective United attacker on the night, as Trippier marked him out of the game.
Subs & Manager
Rasmus Hojlund (7/10):
On for Amad and scored with almost his first touch, as he held off his marker and fizzed an effort into the bottom corner.
Lisandro Martinez (N/A):
On for Mainoo and greeted with a raucous cheer after a lengthy injury lay-off. United must hope he can stay fit next season.
Marcus Rashford (N/A):
On for Garnacho, after a run-in with a fan before kick-off.
Christian Eriksen (N/A):
On for Fernandes to help run the clock down.
Erik ten Hag (6/10):
United may have given up some big chances – and been rescued by VAR – but Ten Hag got all of the major decisions correct, including playing Fernandes as a false nine. That Hojlund scored seconds after coming on as a sub is just the icing on the cake, even if he will have been slightly nervous in injury time after Hall’s strike.
