Newcastle uncharacteristically have let Manchester United surge to a 3-1 halftime lead. After taking an early lead through Matty Longstaff, it was all Manchester United who scored three times to crush the Magpies after a promising start.
Newcastle came out in a similar formation to last weekend with a three-man midfield and two strikers. It was a familiar sight as we sat back and soaked up pressure and tried to hit the Red Devils on the counter.
It worked pretty well as the Magpies had a couple of good chances on the break. During the first one, the ball eventually found Miguel Almiron on the left, who blasted his shot into the stands.
An even better chance would soon follow as Joelinton and Dwight Gayle worked a decent move. Joelinton freed Gayle, who timed his run perfectly, but the 29-year-old lacked composure and skied the ball over the bar.
But Newcastle were not to be denied in the 17th minute as Matty Longstaff dinked a ball to Joelinton in the box. The big man did very well to hold the ball up and find Matty Longstaff. The 19-year-old was all composure as he put the ball tidily past David De Gea into the bottom corner.
What a superb bit of play and another excellent finish from Matty Longstaff. Newcastle finally took their chance and appeared to be growing into the games. However, it didn’t last long.
Manchester United answered just 7 minutes later through Anthony Martial. It was a soft goal to give away as Martial cut into the box from the left and received a pass from Andreas Pereira. He curled his shot to the near post, but Dubravka couldn’t parry it away. He should have done much better as he seemed to have had it covered.
Manchester United were pulling all the strings as they pushed for a second. Which would come through a gift from Fabian Schar. He received the ball from Dubravka at the back and then played a terrible ball straight to Mason Greenwood. The youngster obliged with a wonder goal that Dubravka had no chance on.
It was then Marcus Rashford’s turn. Aaron Wan-Bissaka beat Jetro Willems down the right and launched a cross into the box. Marcus Rashford got the best of Fabian Schar to head the ball into the net to make it 3-1.
Newcastle were lucky to escape the half as it was all Manchester United after they leveled the score. Bruce will be furious with the mental errors which we just cannot afford to make. We’ll see if we can turn the tide, but it’s looking dismal at the moment.
128 comments so far
Dennis Twice
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:24 PM
Comment #1Attack Toon attack, attack!
JohnReese
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:25 PM
Comment #2Absolute shambles. Lost any intensity after we scored the first. Say what you want about the mistakes and deflection leading to the goal but we looked like we thought it was won after the first goal. No urgency to do anything else.
How Gayle didn’t even test De Gea, never mind score I don’t know. Clearly lacking any sort of leadership on the pitch. Lascelles on the pitch and I don’t believe we capitulate like that.
Ref should have given Mctominnay a second yellow for the foul on Almiron, clear and cynical foul but of course he’s bottled it.
Novocastrian66
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:26 PM
Comment #3Amazon is like MUTV.
Ketsbaia9
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:27 PM
Comment #4Got to say that Joelinton looks a lot better today. Our best player by a mile. Hardly losing the ball and set up the first one. Gayle should have scored. Should be 2-1 up really. Schar did that bad pass which set up Greenwood.
Ketsbaia9
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:28 PM
Comment #5Would put Shelvey on for Sean Longstaff. He’s useless. Got to get rid of him. Should have taken the £30m from Man U.
Mag :P
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:29 PM
Comment #6All our own doing unfortunately.
Was a great away performance at old Trafford until the mistakes crept in.
There only goal of class came with the 3rd. The 1st and 2nd have killed us off though unfortunately. Gutted.
Big Joe looks great with a nimble attacker next to him. His best game by far.
L.ARAVIND
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:29 PM
Comment #7Schar has been very poor for the last 2-3 games. 2nd and 3rd goal are because of Schar’s mistake. This guy mind is completely away from newcastle. Let him be sold in January. We have already lost this match. If Steve Bruce is a brave manager, then he has to sub Schar at halftime and keep him away from the starting eleven for atleast half a dozen matches. Losing the game doesn’t matter. It is the character of players that matters and Schar’s character and determination stinks since he came back from the injury.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:31 PM
Comment #8Please can we have a goalkeeper that commands the six yard box.
Might be harsh but Dubravka should of came and punched/caught the ball for third goal – had plenty of time and only two/ three yards to come for the ball.
Only layer worth his salt today – JoeLinton
Ketsbaia9
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:32 PM
Comment #9Even if we got back to 3-2, we’d still lose about 6-3. Just collapse. Dubravka needs to be dropped. Makes too many mistakes. Cost us this game already. Give Darlow a chance.
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:32 PM
Comment #10Our goal was a beauty, well crafted and not much more Man U could do, then you see the states of the first two goals we conceded.
Just gt to win against Everton now to make up for this shit show. Lascelles and Clark hurry up and get back. Need to get back to Fernadez___Lascelles____Clark if we continue with a 3.
If a Chelsea or Arsenal came in with a big bid for Schar I’d snap their hands off. Stock going down by the week since his return. Eventually we have to go to a back four and if we could get £40m+ for him to help fund Bowen and Morelos then i’d absolutely take it.
Jib
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:33 PM
Comment #11Whoops Pogba on now !!!!!
ronaldo aarons
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:33 PM
Comment #12Tominay off second half for pogba. If he wasn’t on a booking he’d have got one for the pull back on almiron. Ref did bottle it.
dougie
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:34 PM
Comment #13Next goals vital,if we get it I still think we can get something but we’ve got to stop the mistakes.
L.ARAVIND
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:34 PM
Comment #14Dubravka has given away 6 goals just because of his mistakes. That’s the joint highest in EPL this season. This guys just keeps making mistakes knowing that our 2nd choice is nowhere close to best. Its time we buy another good gk who gives competition to Dubravka.
JP...from The Rock
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:36 PM
Comment #15Dubz with another blunder against Man Ure! Then Schar with a stupid pass around our box. We’re gifting them the 3 points damn it. Man Ure winning all the 50/50s too. It’s not looking good after such a bright start.
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:37 PM
Comment #16Schar again terrible there under little pressure and with an easy pass down the line.
Sell before he does any more damage to his rep. He’s another David Luiz. Looks imperious on his day, but gets too casual and confidence becomes nervous arrogance very easily.
lesh
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:38 PM
Comment #17Did Brucey gave the lads the day off yesterday?
4-1…..
Any connection?
toon22
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:38 PM
Comment #18FFS
Jammydodger
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:38 PM
Comment #19I’ve never liked the three at the back but it became the norm under Rafa sun shines out of every orifice Benitez and now people on here are complaining about the formation. When it’s successful it’s Rafa’s formation and his win when it doesn’t work it’s Bruce’s fault. Hypocrisy to the max.
Their goals have been our fault and our goal has been our goal. Simples
MikeAshleysWallet
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:38 PM
Comment #20Another mistake, another gift to manure..
dougie
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:38 PM
Comment #21That’s that then,absolutely pathetic
JP...from The Rock
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:39 PM
Comment #223 fking STUPID mistakes in one match!! FFS!!!!!
Sheikh Unknown
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:39 PM
Comment #231-4
What an absolute shambles.
JP...from The Rock
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:39 PM
Comment #244-1 game over now!
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:40 PM
Comment #25Another joke, this time the worst Longstaff brother.
Pathetic.
We’ve made more chances for them than they;ve created themselves.
AWFUL!
Sean Longstaff is another who has been terrible since his injury. An absolute shadow of his former self. 10 months ago he wouldn’t have dreamed of passing backwards there. Confidence gone.
Jammydodger
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:40 PM
Comment #26Side note mctominey should be off
Moonraker15
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:40 PM
Comment #27Steve Bruce gets a few lucky results and we’re probably stuck with him for god knows how long!
Today is the beginning of the relegation struggle!
DubaiMicky
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:41 PM
Comment #28We’re giving them this.
ShirebrookToon
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #29Absolutely appalling
c-dog
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #30Schar has been dirt
Always been a suspect defender
ShirebrookToon
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #31Absolutely appalling!
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #32Can’t tell you how f******* off I am with this dross. Nothing worse than gifting the opposition goals. we’ve done it thrice within 30 mins of a single match.
Bambams
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:42 PM
Comment #33We are very poor going forward.
toon22
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:43 PM
Comment #34Next time it shows the traitor
Look at his eyes
WTF ?
JP...from The Rock
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:43 PM
Comment #35Our defense has let us down big time! What a shite performance.
RUNAWAY777
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:43 PM
Comment #36This is not palace we where lucky to win that one this is pure shit feel sorry for the traveling fans lest this bunch of shit could do is refound there money, man utd are not good where just shit we do not have enough subs to chamge this team.
ilovetoon8788
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:44 PM
Comment #37When luck runs out this are the results we are rightfully suppose to be at the end of.
So many fluke wins. I won’t be surprised if we are back in relegation battle by end of Feb if we don’t get out luck back.
Averaging 30% possession and worse chance created stats is not sustainable.
Anglo Saxon
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:44 PM
Comment #38here we go our great manager wants a whole to open up under him, the start of the great fall me thinks.
Hail Wor Ashley
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:45 PM
Comment #39Moonraker
Nah
We’ll be right at it against Everton and win with Carroll, Shelvey and Hayden out there. One thing Bruce has done well this season is have us bounce back. He’ll be fuming with this showing.
Only real problem is we’ll have this back 3 again unless he brings Dummett in, drops Schar, puts Lejeune central of the three and Fernandez back on the right.
lesh
Dec 26, 2019 at 6:46 PM
Comment #40Jammydodger
Is it the formation that’s wrong today or could it be that the coaching’s got something to do with it?
I’m not saying for a minute that Rafa was ever beyond criticism but to blame today’s performance on him going a bit far don’t you think? Bruce’s been coaching the defence since July and him being a stalwart for Man U’s defence, surely should do better.