Boxing Day delight for reds at Old Trafford
Patrick Dorgu scored his first for the club as they overcame Newastle in a tense game at Old Trafford. A somewhat patched up team looked in control for most of the first half before being forced back after the break. They were able to hold out though to stay on the heels of the European spots.
It was another poor away display from Newcastle though. They had plenty of the ball in dangerous areas but their final pass was often lacking. It is now just two wins in all competitions in December.
Ruben Amorim made two changes from the loss at Villa Park. Lisandro Martinez made his first start of the season in defence. He started ahead of Leny Yoro. Casemiro came back into midfield after serving his suspension. He replaced the injured Bruno Fernandes. Both of Darren Fletcher’s sons were in the squad along with Tyler Fredricson and Shea Lacey in an inexperienced looking bench. Eddie Howe made no changes to his side after their home draw with Chesea. Nick Pope was on the bench after a recent injury.
It was interesting to note that the side lined up with more of a traditional back-four in a change to Amorim’s preferred back-three formation. They had a few half-chances via a header over from Casemiro and a half-volley from Benjamin Sesko but opportunities were few and far between for both sides. Newcastle’s best chance came when Bruno Guimaraes met Anthony Gordon’s corner only to see Senne Lammens pull off a smart save to palm it away.
The visitors gradually got more into the game and won a number of set peices to keep the United defence busy. Gordon and Lewis Hall were getting some joy out wide as the unease grew in the ground.
It was then slightly against the run of play that Utd found themselves in front on 24 minutes. Matheus Cunha won a corner after a powerful run and shot that Aaron Ramsdale got down to push away. Diogo Dalot swung in the set piece which was headed away by Nick Woltemade. It was met on the volley first time by Patrick Dorgu on the edge of the area for the Danes first goal for his club. A VAR check for possible infringement by Cunha was cleared quickly.
This goal greatly lifted the mood and Newcastle were now the ones on the back foot. Dorgu had another effort into the bottom corner parried by Ramsdale before Cunha hit an effort wide when he should have squared it to Sesko. The visitors did threaten on the counter before the break but were unable to execute the appropriate the correct pass.
Jack Fletcher replaced Mason Mount due to a knock but the away side came out the brighter. Jacob Ramsey lost his feet when poised to shoot after neat build up from Guimaraes and Woltemade and Dorgu blocked an effort from Fabian Schar after the centre back found space in the box.
For all the play around the area, Lammens did not have a lot to do. It could have been two at the other end on the hour. Manuel Ugarte dispossed Guimaraes in midfield and fed it through to Sesko. He strode into the box and lashed his shot goalwards. It crashed off the bar with Ramsdale beaten.
Amorim made a few changes shortly after and Newcastle almost got back into it. Hall cut in from the left and he was cursing his luck as the woodwork was rattled once more. They then had a penalty shout turned away as the ball clattered off Lisandro Martinez. It was ruled to have been accidential as he had his back turned.
Gordon and Joelinton both had efforts that they should have done better with as Newcastle increased the pressure. Dalot was then guilty of a terrible miss at the other end that would have eased it. Martinez floated a free kick into the area after a foul on Dorgu. Hall and Schar both stood still to allow the full back through on goal. He lifted the ball over Ramsdale but also the bar.
The earlier subs were started to impact the flow as the reds lost much of the control they had before. They looked increasingly uncertain as the game approached its climax. Joelinton, Lewis Hall, and Joe Willock all had chances in the closing stages but neither of them were convincing.
It was delight on the final as they clinched their first home win in two months and only their second clean sheet of the season. It also revived their hopes for European qualification. They must build upon this when taking on stuggling Wolves on Tuesday at 20:15. Newcastle must get themselves back on track with a journey to second bottom Burnley.
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez (Tyler Fredricson 88), Luke Shaw (Tyrell Malacia 88), Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro (Leny Yoro 61), Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount (Jack Fletcher 46), Mattheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko (Joshua Zirkzee 61).
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, Bendito Mantato.
Booked: Luke Shaw (69), Matheus Cunha (90+2)
Sent off: None
Newcastle United: Aaron Ramsdale, Lewis Miley, Talick Thiaw, Fabian Schar, Lewis Hall, Sandro Tonali (Joe Willock 77), Bruno Fernandes Guimaraes, Jacob Ramsey (Joelinton 68), Jacob Murphy (Harvey Barnes 68), Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade (Yoanne Wissa 68).
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Tyrell Malacia, Tom Heaton, Tyler Fredricson, Bendito Mantato.
Booked: Sandro Tonali (73),
Sent off: None
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Attendance: 43,157.
Simply Red Man of the Match: Ayden Heaven
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