Newcastle find positives in dull 0-0 draw with Manchester United

MANCHESTER: It was dull, dour and dreary at Old Trafford — but just what the doctor ordered for Newcastle United. This was billed as one of the more watchable Premier League encounters on a busy Sunday, pitching 5th against 6th, with two of the form outfits in the top flight doing battle. It turned out to be no advert for football as Eddie Howe’s Magpies frustrated the life out of Manchester United in a 0-0 stalemate, restricting the home side to just speculative efforts and a smattering of late openings to dent the Red Devils’ top four ambitions, and strengthen their own European dreams.

Newcastle made just the one change from the side who strode to consecutive 4-1 and 5-1 victories against Fulham and Brentford, with Joelinton restored to the team in place of Joe Willock, who can count himself unlucky to miss out given his recent form. Lively and end-to-end, the opening exchanges lived up to this game’s impressive billing as both sides looked to exploit opposition weaknesses down the flanks. Fred saw one skew wide from the edge of the area before a contentious call at the other end left striker Callum Wilson perplexed and in a crumpled heap in the Old Trafford area.

Raphael Varane’s outstretched leg put the former Bournemouth man down but referee Craig Pawson was unmoved, somehow. Newcastle kept their foot on the pedal and had three chances in quick succession to take the lead, all of which fell to their Brazilian midfield duet of Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes. The former will be kicking himself how he didn’t make the most of a quickfire double chance.