Newcastle United fans were left fuming over another controversial refereeing decision against Man United
Fabian Schar of Newcastle United appeals for a penalty to referee Anthony Taylor after Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United is struck by the ball inside the penalty area
Newcastle United fans fumed over local referee Anthony Taylor’s decision not to award a second half penalty at Old Trafford but poor finishing was also there for all to see on this Boxing Night defeat in the North-West.
Head coach Eddie Howe is feeling the heat at the moment after his side remained in the bottom half of the table and while this was a positive attacking display in terms of the build-up, some awful decision making in the final third cost him dearly. Howe threw the kitchen sink at Man United and made a host of changes in the second half but it did not have the desired effect.
There was a deathly hush as Sandro Tonali came off near the end for Joe Willock in what was a surprise substitution. Ultimately, Howe and his staff are struggling to come up with answers and this showed against a Man United side with seven absentees including talisman Bruno Fernandes.
After Lisandro Martinez’s block, with his arms, Newcastle fans chanted: “Oh Anthony Taylor we know where you live” in reference to his Altrincham address in nearby Greater Manchester.
Putting the penalty anger to one side, surely this ordinary Man United side were there for the taking? Nobody was quaking in their boots when the team sheet came out an hour and half before the game.
But if Man United wanted a confidence boost, Newcastle were on hand to give them one and the lead after some poor defending from another throw-in.
The Red Devils won a corner in the second minute with Mason Mount whipping the ball into the box, but veteran Casemiro headed high over the bar. And it was Man United – playing with a 4-2-3-1 formation – who started with what felt like some extra bite, summed up when Manuel Ugarte steamed into Bruno Guimaraes on seven minutes to win the ball back.
A Patrick Dorgu cross on 11 minutes found Benjamin Sesko, but despite being afforded plenty of room to turn and shoot, he sent it wide. But Newcastle rallied and won a corner moments later with Sandro Tonali curling into the danger area for Bruno Guimaraes to connect, but Senne Lammens got down to smother the ball.
The game reached the halfway point of the first half with Newcastle asking questions of Man United and the Magpies had four corners to their name. But Man United remained a threat, and Matheus Cunha provided a wake-up call on 24 minutes when he rattled a shot at Aaron Ramsdale.
It was a warning Newcastle didn’t heed though and within seconds the latest defensive inquest in the Toon defence was unfolding before our very eyes. Diogo Dalot’s long throw from the left was tossed in, but Nick Woltemade’s headed clearance only fell as far as Dorgu, who cracked home unmarked to beat Ramsdale and find the right-hand corner on 24 minutes.
As Newcastle tried to reboot, Man United came forward again and having had confidence handed to them by Newcastle, Dorgu tried to lob Ramsdale with the chance snuffed out by the on loan Southampton man. In 33 minutes, Dorgu raided the Magpies down the right again, and his low shot was beaten away by Ramsdale.
There were four first half minutes left when Jacob Murphy zipped the ball across the face of goal but it whizzed past Woltemade with the German star’s frustrations growing. Newcastle went in behind at the break having had just one attempt on target.
Man United replaced Mount with England Under-19 youngster Jack Fletcher at the break. Newcastle got a glimpse of goal straight after the retstart when Woltemade back-heeled the ball into the path of Ramsey but he stumbled over his own feet at the crucial moment.
With 51 minutes gone Miley’s corner was half-cleared before Fabian Schar directed an effort at goal but Dorgu made a crucial intervention. Ugarte cashed in on a mistake from Bruno who released Sesko but he could only strike the bar at the Stretford End.
As Newcastle enjoyed some possession but failed to convert with Lewis Hall decided to take matters into his own hands before crashing an effort off the bar just after the hour. Moments later Schar’ effort clattered off the arms of Lisandro Martinez but even after a VAR check it was deemed no penalty.
With 67 minutes gone, Murphy slipped in Gordon, but he sent an effort just wide of the back post. Moments later, Murphy was taken off along with Woltemade and Ramsey. Harvey Barnes, Yoane Wissa and Joelinton came on in their places mid-way through the second half. Tonali was booked on 73 minutes for a foul on Dorgu.
From the resultant free-kick, the ball was clipped in for Dalot, but his effort skimmed over the crossbar. Tonali was replaced by Joe Willock with 14 minutes left and even though the Italian was on a yellow card there was barely a murmur from the travelling Geordies.
Gordon clipped the ball in from the left for Joelinton but his daisy cutter was gathered easily by the goalkeeper. Bruno lost the ball in midfield with nine minutes left with Cunha sending the ball wide.
With six minutes remaining on the clock Barnes cut the ball across to Gordon in the middle but he blazed it over. Hall’s cross was flicked on by Wissa in the 90th minute but Miley lashed high and over.
The Magpies pushed for what would have been a deserved equaliser given their 66% possession and 16 goal attempts but they blew a big chance to beat a weakened and ordinary Man United side.
It’s six wins from the last 20 matches for Howe and his backroom team now. Defeat at Burnley is unthinkable.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)