Newcastle put up a fight for close to an hour but Manchester United took control in the second half. The Red Devils asserted their dominance after Newcastle’s encouraging first-half performance which bled over into the early stages of the second. The lads were ultimately unable to stay competitive and the Red Devils added two goals in the second forty-five to hand the Magpies another defeat.
Newcastle came out unchanged after an encouraging first half had them level at the break. The restart was impressive with the Magpies spending the opening minutes in the Manchester end which resulted in a decent effort from Saint-Maximin in the 49th minute, though it was easily saved by de Gea.
Steve Bruce made his first change ten minutes into the second half. Joelinton was removed for Ryan Fraser. The Brazilian had his moments in the first half despite appearing to be hampered by an injury.
Just after the change, Newcastle had another defensive lapse. They were comfortably set in a block behind the ball when Nemanja Matic played a pass across the box. Jamal Lewis jumped up but a slight touch from Bruno Fernandes allowed the ball to reach Daniel James, who was unmarked. The Welsh international’s shot sailed past Darlow to give the hosts another lead.
Manchester United wrestled control of the match in the lead up to the goal and this time they didn’t allow Newcastle an easy route back into the game. Newcastle struggled to get hold of the ball and the hosts began to dominate.
In the 73rd minute, the Red Devils added a third goal after Joe Willock slid toward Marcus Rashford in the box. It’s questionable whether Willock actually made contact with Rashford but a penalty was awarded. Bruno Fernandes took the penalty to make it 3-1 which put the match out of reach for the Magpies.
Steve Bruce brought Jacob Murphy on for Allan Saint-Maximin after the goal. Soon after Murphy came on Bruce brought Dwight Gayle on for Miguel Almiron. The changes did little to affect the outcome as the final stages of the game consisted of Newcastle desperately trying to deny their hosts a fourth goal.

429 comments so far
nufc 11
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:02 PM
Comment #1For anyone that said Rafa was too negative with his nufc team tonight’s team cost 50% more and have gotten 50% worse under Bruce, which is not a shocker though. BRUCE WAS NEVER WANTED AT NUFC BY THE FANS. Relegation and the Saudi deal fading away couldn’t happen to a better bloke than Mike Ashley.
Optimistic prime
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:03 PM
Comment #2Reference the picture at the top
if he’s wondering what the time is, it’s time to leave.
lochinvar
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:03 PM
Comment #3Has Bruce and the Stevedores
a) resigned ?
or
b) been sacked ?
If you could leave a sticky note on the front door at SJP I’ll check it our remotely
Ace50
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:03 PM
Comment #4How Matic was able to turn on the edge of our box and look up and play a pass right across is beyond me. You would be gutted if that happened in your own Sunday team!
Ketsbaia9
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:04 PM
Comment #5Daniel James and Matic had good games for them. Lewis is so poor it’s unbelievable. He offers nothing going forward and is terrible defensively. Krafth is useless too. Don’t rate Willock. Suicidal letting Yedlin leave. Even Diame would’ve been a decent signing.
lochinvar
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:05 PM
Comment #6OP
great idea, a caption competition to lighten the evening
My entry
” beam me up Stottie, lots of red sauce”
Ace50
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:05 PM
Comment #7And what’s Bruce thinking, laughing and smiling as he walks away after the game with Ole and his Man U mates….NOT with his ‘own’ team!! He is clueless on so many different levels!
lochinvar
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:06 PM
Comment #8“when the big hand goes past Micky Mouse’s nose it’s time to go”
Ace50
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:07 PM
Comment #9Caption competition: “Is it bacon-o-clock yet?”
toon22
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:07 PM
Comment #10Oh well
Some of it was ok
Thats 11 defeats and 1 draw for the clown at Manu now
If hes not sacked we are relegated
Him and his hopeless mackem mates
Optimistic prime
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:07 PM
Comment #11Hrs laughing cos he’s safe, unlike our club.
Online Guy
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:07 PM
Comment #12Wondering now if Bruce has been released from his duties 2 weeks back
Jones clearly told to stay in the background for fear of the press jumping on it .
Whos the head coach ? Jones was bending a few players ears with instructions ..Bruce looking on strangely
..whats ganning on .
toonluvva
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:07 PM
Comment #13I thought we pressed well and fell behind to an uncharacteristic error by Darlow for their first. I fact all 3 of their goals came from individual errors but I didn’t see any heads go down. An absolute worldly from ASM for the equaliser.
If we can replicate this effort over the remaining matches the good news is that we should survive, the bad news is that might mean Bruceless keeps his job, and we end up in the same position next season.
toon22
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:08 PM
Comment #14The turd can pretend were being sold all he likes
This clown is going to relegate us
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:08 PM
Comment #15The only player worthy of MOM for us was Miggy, wouldn’t give any of our players a rating higher than 5/10 for the second half.
I actually think that was a canny move to take him off, it was obvious we were getting nowhere and he’d ran himself into the ground.
Online Guy
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:08 PM
Comment #16Told you 20 months back , Bruce is anywhere for a little Apple ..
Plastic Geordie . Man Utd Supporter through and through ..no affinity for Newcastle United at all..hes got history with statements pertaining to , to put it bluntly..taking the piss .
chancel be a fine thing
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:08 PM
Comment #17WTF, Michael Owen talking sense! Called it as no penalty and a dive.
JohnReese
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:08 PM
Comment #18I think the only way Bruce gets the sack is if someone goes to the club and offers to take the job at well below their market value, otherwise Ashley waits until we’re 6+ points from safety.
Rotonda heights
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:09 PM
Comment #19Bruce’s GD record is absolutely appalling.
Credit to Jones for bringing in the press. Trouble is our players are obviously not fit enough to do a whole game with it. Only Almiron looks like he can keep running.
Obvious things are:
Dubs back in
Any alternative for Kraft.
Take Lewis out of the firing line.
Shelvey out full stop. Maybe for Anderson. We need legs in the middle
Maybe bring Toure in up front.
Gayle, Carroll and Jo (as a striker) really not fit for purpose either at this level. .
Munster
Dougie said he’d only want us to go down if we are guaranteed the removal of the fat man, not otherwise. Good to contextualize these things.
toonluvva
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:09 PM
Comment #20Did you know Mickey Mouse wears a Bruceless watch?
only one bobby robson
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:10 PM
Comment #21I thought ASM was a lazy pre Madonna tonight where has his ability to beat players gone? And doesn’t know the meaning of marking a player Sir Bobby wouldn’t of had it I tell you !
Online Guy
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:11 PM
Comment #22If Jones is now the Head coach and Bruce has been relieved of his duties why dont the club announce it ?
Like Bruce was playing a false Mid
Is Ashley now playing a false Manager ?
nufc 11
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:13 PM
Comment #23Mike said last year he was highly offended that pundits classed Nufc a championship level team from tonight’s showing that remark is a disservice to league one teams. Years of mismanagement, incompetence and neglect are what we are seeing nowadays I am afraid and Nufc will become a Leeds Utd and might not see the PL again for 20 years.
Sav
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:13 PM
Comment #24As the commentators said, Newcastle didn’t get enough players into the box against a poor enough MU. Joelinton was surprisingly good in patches although his body language sucks but no way is he a striker. We needed Shelvey and Willock busting a gut to score. They played okay, but Bruce doesn’t believe and so, neither do they.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:14 PM
Comment #25Caption
Right if that’s not enough to get that fat slob to sack me then aah (false geordie accent) don’t know what else aah can do? Wonder what’s for dinner!
Ketsbaia9
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:14 PM
Comment #26I would give Graeme Jones the job until the end of the season. We can’t play well for 90 minutes. How can we just drop like that in the second half. We were the better team in the first half. So one-sided.
SiOliver
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:14 PM
Comment #27Played a bit better, set pieces actually looked like they had been practiced and I think we didn’t give them the ball from all our throw ins, however, no points and GD is getting worse. Didn’t expect anything but if we are planning on staying up on the basis of the last 2 games being easy then we are truly delusional.
Sav
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Comment #28Steve Bruce, false number 1.
Ketsbaia9
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Comment #29I actually thought Joelinton played well today. Did some good touches.
dougie
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Comment #30No matter what happens this season I guarantee Almiron and St Max are away in the summer.Its a complete waste of their talent working for these buffoons.
Ketsbaia9
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Comment #31We went crap when he went off.
Slatymag
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Comment #32Bruce out.
It’s that simple. Persisting with Bruce is sheer stubbornness. Admit his record screamed that he was not the answer. Admit he was the umpteenth choice. Admit he is cheap. Admit he won’t answer back. Admit that he isn’t good enough for any other PL club. Admit that him being a Geordie doesn’t pull the wool over our eyes. Admit the stats. Admit that the he won’t walk. Admit he might cost the club a once in a lifetime transformation. Admit the people who make decisions are more often than not very, very wrong.
coming home
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:15 PM
Comment #33Ok we played ok in the main and if we play like that for the rest of the season we might be ok
But I’d sack Bruce now and get Rafa back at any cost and we will keep our prem status
On tonights game, 2 things are sure 1 Miggy was the best player on the pitch and 2 was never a pen and Rashford dived
toonluvva
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:16 PM
Comment #34Rotonda
I agree that Almiron can run and run, but how often does anyone try and get alongside him in support. That makes the oppositions job too easy in my opinion.
Also why don’t we swap ASM across to the right for a period in the game. Today Manure had 3 players around him on the left and we set up to do that. Perhaps a switch might give amore space and a chance to use his speed.
I know there are some want to see a return for Dubs, but how many times this season has Darlow been our MoM. I also thought Clark was immense today, and I must admit I had him down as being a championship player.
Ketsbaia9
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:16 PM
Comment #35Yeah, I’m sure Almiron and Saint-Maximin would do a lot better in a better team. They would be good signings for Man Utd.
toonluvva
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:16 PM
Comment #36*and were set up to do that.
Ketsbaia9
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:17 PM
Comment #37Maybe Dubravka has to return after the Darlow error. I’d keep Darlow in until he makes another mistake and then drop him.
Tackle from behind
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:18 PM
Comment #38Rafa will be here in the morning.
Already had his mail redirected, cancelled the training pizzas and ordered some colouring books for Gayle
Pottsclock
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:19 PM
Comment #39Heaven knows where we would be now if we hadn’t signed Wilson, or had signed a less capable striker for the same money.
Online Guy
Feb 21, 2021 at 9:20 PM
Comment #40A heavy defeat today I was expecting a Taxi for Bruce and a new gaffa in Monday afternoon ..already organised was the hope here.
The atmosphere that pervades around Bruce is Negative ..I have a feeling that he’s already gone but hanging around here and that in itself is detrimental to the players psychological state .