Newcastle Triumph Over Manchester United at Old Trafford for First Time Since 1972

 

Newcastle Triumph Over Manchester United at Old Trafford for First Time Since 1972

Newcastle's 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford marked only their second-ever league win at the iconic stadium since 1972, as they condemned the Red Devils to their third consecutive home loss in all competitions—a feat not seen at the club in over 60 years.

The last time Manchester United suffered three straight home defeats was during the 1962-63 season under Sir Matt Busby. However, early goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton handed Eddie Howe's side a thoroughly deserved victory, which saw Newcastle finish 2024 in an impressive fifth place in the Premier League.

Isak, who has been in sensational form, took his goal tally to 12, with eight goals in his last six appearances, including six consecutive games. Meanwhile, Manchester United's performance was dismal, with head coach Ruben Amorim making an early change in the 33rd minute, replacing Joshua Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo. This substitution highlighted the tactical errors in his starting lineup, particularly pairing veterans Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield, which backfired.

Marcus Rashford was named to the bench but, despite watching his team slide to a fourth straight defeat, Amorim chose not to bring the England forward on. United now find themselves in 14th place, just seven points clear of the relegation zone. What was once a joke about avoiding relegation is now a growing concern, especially with league leaders Liverpool awaiting them at Anfield on Sunday.

For Newcastle, the match was a controlled performance. Despite a modern age of tactical innovation, the Magpies didn’t need anything overly complicated to take control. Manchester United’s struggles with defending set-pieces were evident once again. The issues began when Nottingham Forest scored from a corner at Old Trafford earlier in December, and the trend continued here. Bruno Guimarães’s cross found Lewis Hall in space, and Anthony Gordon’s similar delivery led to Isak’s first goal.

On both occasions, United's defense was poorly organized. Five defenders were lined up in front of Isak, yet he was able to score with a free header. Joelinton doubled the lead when he outmuscled Lisandro Martínez and made it 2-0 by the 19th minute. The Magpies could have extended their lead further as Isak missed a one-on-one with Onana, and Gordon had a shot deflected over the bar. Kieran Trippier even attempted to score directly from a corner, forcing Onana into a scramble at the near post.

With a Champions League spot still in their sights and a Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal next week, Newcastle’s focus for the rest of the game was to contain United's attack. This victory was a much-needed boost for Howe’s team, as they head into the new year in a strong position despite some inconsistencies earlier in the season. For Manchester United, however, the future looks increasingly uncertain as they search for answers to their growing problems.