Before the game Manchester United had endured a disappointing 0-0 draw against Valencia in the Champions league and Jose Mourinho’s future at the club looked uncertain after some poor results and rumours that he had lost the dressing room. Newcastle, who were also off to a bad start, had problems of their own with Mike Ashley wanting out of the club.
However, Newcastle came out looking like a new side in the first half as they opened the scoring in the 7th minute, with a curling left footed finish from Kenedy as he cut in past Ashley Young and put the ball past De Gea. They then went and doubled their lead in the 10th minute as Muto got the ball at his feet, turned Young and Bailly easily and beat De Gea again. Manchester United were sluggish in this half and sat off Newcastle, giving players like Shelvey and Diame too much time on the ball to pick out passes. Speaking of which, these two were superb throughout the game, finding it so easy to take the ball away from Pogba and Matic. The only chance that the Manchester United had in the first half was a free header that Rashford should’ve buried after an excellent ball in from Lukaku.
[pullquote]Newcastle had one last chance to win the game when Diame popped up at a corner with a free header but misjudged the flight of the ball.[/pullquote]In the second half it looked like there would be no way back for Manchester United after their first half display, but they came out seemingly rejuvenated. The tempo increased from them and the passing was much quicker once the first goal went in, a fabulous freekick that substitute Juan Mata took. They then equalised in the 76th minute as Martial and Pogba played some excellent passes to one another which ended in a Martial finish. Newcastle had one last chance to win the game when Diame popped up at a corner with a free header but misjudged the flight of the ball. However, it was the home side who got the winner in the 90th minute as Sanchez headed in from short range to make it 3-2.
Newcastle were unlucky not to get anything from the game as they played amazing football at times, but Mourinho’s men were too good in the second half. This could be the turning point for Manchester United and Mourinho, especially if Sanchez and Pogba can find form and no more conflict in the dressing room occurs.