Manchester United fell to a late defeat for the first time under Michael Carrick following a stunning late strike from William Osula in added time.
The Red Devils looked set to be leaving St James’ Park with at least a point as they pushed for a late winner against the 10-men after Casemiro had ruled out Anthony Gordon’s penalty in the first-half. But for their late pressure, they were hit by a sucker punch on the counter attack that no one would have begrudged the hosts.
When United were floundering under Ruben Amorim, many fans suggested Eddie Howe as a potential replacement at Old Trafford, but given the respective form of the two clubs since Michael Carrick’s tenure started, those appraisals had gone very quiet.
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United had won six from seven games under Carrick – a record points tally for a new manager seven games into a tenure. Meanwhile, Newcastle won just once in the Premier League since the second week of January heading into the night. A run of only two wins in nine domestic games.
The form table couldn’t look any different for the two respective clubs, but this was United heading to Newcastle. A game that the Geordies mark on their calendar every year. Ahead of a March fixture run that sees Newcastle play Manchester City, Barcelona twice, Chelsea and Sunderland, the visit of Carrick’s side was bound to be a hotly contested one and United did not help themselves out early on.
Matheus Cunha was caught sleeping three minutes in as he failed to track Kieran Trippier’s run in behind him. The veteran full-back clipped the ball back across goal and onto the post before Lewis Hall fired a volley over from close range. It was an early escape for the visitors but one that brought a roar from the home crowd.
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That kicked off a fast-paced game that saw Cunha fire over a good opening from 20 yards, but it was the hosts creating the better chances as Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes went close in the opening 15 minutes.
A feisty first-half brought multiple bookings but also late on presented Bryan Mbeumo with a golden chance to give United the lead at half-time. Cunha’s driving run and shot was parried by Aaron Ramsdale straight to the winger, who blazed the ball over the bar. The first moment of a crazy end to the opening 45.
The totting up of yellow cards looked set to come back and haunt one team sooner rather than later and Jacob Ramsey was giving his marching orders as referee Peter Banks showed a second yellow card for simulation after turning down a Newcastle penalty claim.
But the ball was soon on the spot for the hosts just minutes later when Anthony Gordon was felled by Bruno Fernandes. The England winger stepped up and converted the spot kick.
But the initial minimum three minutes of added time weren’t done yet as Casemiro headed in the equaliser from Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick in the 53rd minute. In finally the last act of a crazy added time.
United would have expected to kick on in the second half against 10-men but created next to nothing as the cut and thrust of the first-half had completely disappeared.
Newcastle were infact the team who came closest to scoring with Gordon slicing a sitter wide of the post after he was left unmarked ghosting round the back of the defence just six yards out.
It took until the 70th minute for the visitors to finally start dictating the play and soon created a chance as good as Gordon’s opener when Fernandes’ clip into the back post found Leny Yoro unmarked, but United would have been wishing it Benjamin Sesko or Harry Maguire it was falling to as the young Frenchman failed to direct the header far enough into the corner, allowing Ramsdale to parry away.
Carrick’s substitutes were also bold. While Amad Diallo’s introduction for Mbeumo in the 77th minute came too late, Joshua Zirkzee doubled down the attacking intent to win the game as he replaced Kobbie Mainoo, seeing Fernandes drop back into a deeper role.
The changes certainly brought a positive reaction as balls into the box increased but failed to find their man or receive the telling final product. In the end, Zirkzee took on a stinging effort from 25 yards which Ramsdale had to push over the bar in the 88th minute.
But while the goal looked set to only be coming at one end, a rare Newcastle attack saw Osula break clear before whipping a curling effort into the far corner to lift the roof of St James’ Park. Carrick’s attempts to win the game backfired as his unbeaten record disappeared.
United entered the midweek fixtures in third and ultimately would end in that position after Aston Villa were hammered 4-1 at home by Champions League-chasing rivals Chelsea at Villa Park earlier in the day and Liverpool were embarrassingly beaten by bottom of the table Wolves on Tuesday.