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Manchester United fell to a 2-0 loss at residence to Newcastle United on Monday night time, extending their humiliating shedding streak to 4 video games on the trot in all competitions.
After shedding three matches on the trot, supervisor Ruben Amorim would have little question been determined to return away with a consequence, notably as United closed out 2024 with their remaining match of the 12 months in entrance of the Previous Trafford crowd.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be, with poor man-marking by a stagnant defence leading to not only one however each of the targets that the guests put away.
Simply over the three-minute mark, the guests discovered the again of the web. In what was Newcastle’s first correct assault of the night, Anthony Gordon thumped a cross to Aleksander Isak, who headed the ball into the again of the web. Amorim will need to have been questioning why each Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez didn’t shut the striker down.
For the opening 10 minutes, it was one-way site visitors with the guests in agency management. Isak was decided to double his tally with a shot from the sting of the field, just for Maguire to dam his try.
17 minutes in, Isak was on the prowl but once more. Maguire did properly to close the striker down as he approached the field, limiting his sight of aim and forcing a smooth shot that Andre Onana caught with ease.
In a repeat of the primary aim, Newcastle acquired on a fast breakaway, with Gordon replicating his earlier cross, this time discovering the pinnacle of Joelinton. 2-0 to Newcastle in entrance of an anxious Previous Trafford crowd.
25 minutes in, Sandro Tonali unleashed a strong long-range effort that was deflected out for a nook. Fortuitously, Onana was capable of punch the ball out of play, stopping yet one more aim from a nook towards a brittle United defence.
Within the thirtieth minute, Isak whipped in a shot from the nook of the field that flew previous Onana into the far nook of the web. Fortuitously for United, the aim was dominated offside, saving the hosts from much more humiliation.
Barely a minute later, Tonali and Gordon loved an change, chopping via United’s defence into the field. Tonali beat Onana, just for his shot to reverberate towards the publish.
32 minutes in, Amorim already made a substitution. Kobbie Mainoo got here on to interchange Joshua Zirkzee, who instantly headed down the tunnel. One may solely think about his frustration at being taken off so early on.
A minute later, Rasmus Hojlund acquired on the top of a fast counter, along with his shot veering throughout the face of the aim. Whereas off-target, the shot a minimum of signalled United’s first correct attacking movement of the match up to now.
After three minutes of stoppage time have been introduced, Mainoo intercepted the ball within the remaining third. He expertly threaded the ball to Casemiro, who fluffed his strains and blasted the ball broad in what ought to have been a simple scoring alternative.
It was a dire half for United, who have been completely dominated at residence with very restricted scoring prospects.
United gave the impression to be stepping issues up at first of the second half, with Casemiro drilling an honest cross into the field that the goalkeeper caught. The temper across the stadium gave the impression to be brighter, with followers hopeful that United may nonetheless flip the sport round.
On the hour mark, the unlikeliest of gamers got here near pulling one again for United. Maguire burst ahead, firing a header in the direction of the aim that hit the upright. Abruptly, United sparked to life within the remaining third.
Martinez was proven a yellow card for a tough problem on Isak previous the midway line. It appeared as if Martinez was decided to cease the striker earlier than he may use his tempo to show United’s defence but once more.
Within the sixty fifth minute, Casemiro made approach for Alejandro Garnacho whereas Leny Yoro changed Martinez.
Within the 74th minute, United received a nook. Eriksen’s cross was good, discovering Yoro’s head. Sadly, his shot breezed simply broad.
United seemed threatening within the guests’ field on the 80-minute mark, with Amad and Hojlund each making an attempt pictures that have been blocked whereas Eriksen skied the follow-up.
Antony got here on for Matthijs de Ligt, with Amorim seemingly seeking to ramp up United’s assault in quest of a late aim.
Three minutes of stoppage time have been introduced, however United have been unable to make any additional inroads throughout this time. 2-0 the rating remained as United suffered yet one more crushing defeat.
Amorim might want to do some severe reflection as he seems to be to enhance United’s fortunes in 2025. January switch market motion seems to be important.
Beginning XI: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Hojlund, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Amad, Casemiro, Dalot
Subs: Mainoo, Garnacho, Yoro, Antony
Featured Picture Carl Recine through Getty Photographs
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