13 April 2025
Newcastle 4 Man Utd 1
Still buoyant from their Carabao Cup success, The Magpies will need to use that to try and make this a season to remember in more ways than one. Eddie Howe’s side have their eyes firmly focussed on Champions League qualification now. They welcomed Man Utd to St James’ Park and would have to do it without their manager who is having some time away from his duties due to illness.
Jason Tindall was stepping up to the plate to run things in the absence of the gaffer. The Magpies almost took an early lead when the in-form Murphy struck an effort towards goal. It narrowly missed the far post with Bayindir well beaten. It was an early statement of intent from the hosts that they were hungry for victory.
The visitors almost scored a goal of the month contender soon after. Eriksen won the ball back deep in the Newcastle half. He played it to Fernandes, who exchanged a neat one-two with Zirkzee. He played it back into the path of the forward, whose effort was well saved by Pope as he turned it over the crossbar for a corner.
Guimaraes put an inch-perfect cross into the box onto the head of Isak. The Swede rose but his glancing header was just wide of the target. This seemed to spark the hosts into life and he soon turned provider as he played it into Tonali, who volleyed past the keeper to break the deadlock. St James’ Park was rocking as it nestled in the back of the net.
The Italian seemed to grow in confidence following his goal. He tried a strike from distance but it narrowly missed the target. Isak was the next player to try and get on the scoresheet but his volley was superbly saved by Bayindir. It proved to be an important stop as they countered and Garnacho slotted past Pope to draw the visitors level.
After the interval, The Magpies seemed to step it up a gear. Livramento did brilliantly out wide before his cross into the box found Murphy. He cut it back from the byline for Barnes to tap home and restore their lead. It was no more than Newcastle had deserved, they had dominated this game in the main in front of their own fans.
Newcastle know that by winning their games in hand, they will be in sole control of whether they qualify for the Champions League or not. Having previously experienced a journey in Europe’s elite competition, they are hungry to savour that once more. Last time, they were handed a ‘group of death’ and with the new format, fancy their chances of staying the course.
A stumble by Mazraoui gifted the ball to Barnes. He ran at the Man Utd defence, with no one willing to put a challenge in. As he drove through the middle, he passed the ball into the top corner to send the fans into dreamland. Finally, they were in complete control of this game and the visitors seemed helpless to stop their attacks.
Onana was left out of the squad for this match, for good reason. It has been a catalogue of errors since his joining the club. It seems it may be infectious as Bayindir tried to pass the ball out and hit it straight at Joelinton. He headed it into the path of Guimaraes, who tucked it past the keeper to put this game to bed.
If you listen to their fans, ex-players or pundits, this Man Utd side is always on the verge of turning a corner. To the neutral, this just seems to be a flight of fantasy. There are so many things wrong at the club currently and the playing squad lacks a lot too. Any rebuilding is going to take some serious time, if they are able to get back to where they want to be at all.
The Magpies held on for a convincing victory which should certainly perk Eddie Howe up if he was watching. His team are coming into form at just the right time to achieve their goals. If they can secure Champions League football, coupled with their Carabao Cup win, this could be one of the best seasons the club has enjoyed in their history.
As for the visitors, it is hard to see a way out of their current predicament. Ruben Amorim is stubborn and plays a certain way. It does not seem he has many players in squad able to deliver that. With PSR’s impact on the modern game, it does not seem viable for them to go out and buy the number of players needed to give the manager what he needs. They seem to be stuck in a repeating cycle of failure right now.
Did you enjoy this article? Please share to your social media. With one click you can help spread the word and make Solid at the Back the one-stop shop for all Premier League fans.