Manchester United clinch League Cup after final victory over Newcastle

Manchester United clinched their first trophy in almost six years on Sunday after defeating Newcastle United 2-0 in the League Cup final at Wembley.

Casemiro opened the scoring when he headed home Luke Shaw's perfect set-piece cross in the 33rd minute and Sven Botman's own goal, deflecting a Marcus Rashford strike over goalkeeper Loris Karius, six minutes later proved the difference.

In lifting the League Cup, United have claimed their first piece of silverware since winning the Europa League in 2017 and provided tangible proof of the progress being made under manager Erik ten Hag since his appointment last summer.The celebrations that accompanied United's sixth League Cup triumph could be the first of many trophy parades on the evidence of Ten Hag's transformative first season.

United remain challengers on three other fronts, sitting third in the Premier League and with an FA Cup fifth round tie against West Ham on Wednesday followed by a Europa League last 16 tie against Real Betis in March.

After 10 years in the wilderness since Alex Ferguson retired having led them to their last Premier League title in 2013, United are finally emerging from one of the darkest periods in the club's illustrious history.

United finished a dismal sixth in the Premier League last season, but Ten Hag has swiftly masterminded their return to relevance. It was fitting that Ten Hag's maiden trophy success with United came after he met Ferguson for dinner recently and with the Scot watching from the Wembley stands.

Ending United's longest trophy drought for 40 years is no guarantee of future success, but the steely Ten Hag appears capable of thriving in the unrelenting Old Trafford spotlight.

Despite failing to win their first major trophy