Luke Shaw issues brutally honest Manchester United verdict after Newcastle defeat

Left-back Luke Shaw described Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon as "unacceptable", admitting that that the home side showed far more hunger for all three points.

United were condemned to their second Premier League defeat in their last three matches, thanks to second half goals from Joe Willock and substitute Callum Wilson. Newcastle were the better side throughout the contest and richly deserved all three points.

The Reds were second best from the very first whistle and failed to lay so much as a glove on the Magpies, who were inspired by a raucous home atmosphere. The result saw Newcastle leapfrog United in the table, moving up to third on goal difference.

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And for Shaw, who is close to putting pen to paper on a new deal at Old Trafford, it was a result that he could have no complaints about.

"It was not good enough," Shaw admitted, speaking to Sky Sports. "I feel like every time I speak after bad results that I am always honest and I think us, as a team, we have to be honest.

"I do think that Newcastle are a very good side, but I don't think they won the game on quality today; I think they won it on passion, hunger, desire, attitude and they clearly had a higher motivation than we did. That cannot be possible.

"Like I said, it is not acceptable. It was a massive game today and they wanted it more. At Man United that cannot be possible."

United have now failed to score in each of their last three league matches - their worst run since February 2020 - and have picked up just seven points from the last 15 on offer. Alarmingly, Shaw sensed a performance of such nature was around the corner prior to the