Newcastle too good for Man Utd despite mounting injury crisis

Manchester United’s Portuguese defender #20 Diogo Dalot (L) trips Newcastle United’s Paraguayan midfielder #24 Miguel Almiron (2L) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on December 2, 2023. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

Newcastle shrugged off an injury crisis to beat Manchester United 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Anthony Gordon’s second-half winner.

Victory takes Eddie Howe’s men above United into fifth in the Premier League table and was the very least the home side deserved for a dominant display that should have been rewarded with more goals.

Gordon’s solitary strike proved enough as he slotted in Kieran Trippier’s cross on 55 minutes.

But the three points came at a cost for Newcastle as goalkeeper Nick Pope hobbled off late on to add to their injury woes.

The Magpies were without 11 first-team players, yet were utterly dominant for the first hour against a United side that are still yet to register a win against a side in the top nine of the Premier League table this season.

“We are well aware of our situation but the players have responded again,” said Howe.

“I couldn’t be happier with the players tonight I thought we gave a really good display. The character and effort levels have been of the highest level.”

Andre Onana was in the spotlight after his two glaring errors cost Erik ten Hag’s men in a 3-3 draw at Galatasaray in midweek that could prove fatal to their chances of progression in the Champions League.

But the Cameroonian made an important early save to deny Miguel Almiron finding the far corner.

Newcastle also suffered Champions League disappointment in midweek as a controversial stoppage-time penalty