MANCHESTER UNITED have escaped with a draw after an abject display at Newcastle.
Just seven minutes into the game, Allan Saint-Maximin beat two defenders before firing into the top corner to give struggling Newcastle a shock lead.
But Edinson Cavani poked the ball home for the Red Devils as they got out of jail at St James’ Park.
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Goodbye from St James’ Park
That’s all from us at the end of an exhausting evening in the north-east.
Neither Newcastle nor Manchester United have moved in the Premier League table after their stalemate at St James’ Park, but the performances of the two teams will have left one set of fans more excited for the second half of the season than the other.
The Magpies may be rooted in the relegation zone, but their showing here was full of desire and suggested they are more than ready for the fight ahead. Such hunger was absent from the United ranks, and Ralf Rangnick will know he still has much work to do if the Red Devils are to rise back to the top.
There’s plenty more football to come over the coming days – Covid-19 permitting – and we’ll be here to cover every kick for you. For now, thanks for joining us, and goodnight.
Extra! Read all about it!
Before you head off to bed, there’s still time to relive tonight’s action with Oscar Paul’s match report from St James’ Park.
The whistle blew and, against all the odds, Toon battered the Red Devils from pillar to post. As bad as Man United were – and they really were horrendous – Eddie Howe’s side were exceptional. So to only come away with a point will have to go down as a massive missed opportunity.
Rangnick unhappy with United showing
Ralf Rangnick looked consistently unimpressed in the Manchester United dugout this evening, and his post-match interview backs up that impression.
The German coach spoke prior to the game about his team’s need to control the match, but felt they failed to carry that out at St James’ Park.
I didn’t like it at all. Today we didn’t control the game apart from a few moments. It’s all about energy, physicality and who wins the second balls. In all those areas we weren’t at our best. The good thing is we got a point but the performance needs to be better.
Ralf Rangnick
Howe fears for Newcastle casualties
In his post-match interview, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe stated that it is too early to tell in terms of the injuries sustained by Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin this evening, but admitted he feared for the former given that he went down without another player near him.
The coach also suggested that his squad are now dangerously close to the threshold in terms of absentees through injury and Covid-19, and that their scheduled game with Everton on Thursday may now be in doubt.
Joelinton excels in new role
The much-maligned Joelinton put in a Man of the Match performance in his new role as a box-to-box midfielder.
The Brazilian was brilliant throughout, both in a defensive capacity when winning the ball back, and as a driving, creative force from deep.
- 64 touches
- 25 passes completed
- 11 ball recoveries (most)
- 8 duels won
- 4 interceptions (most)
- 3 chances created (joint-most)
Magpies let it slip again
For the ninth time this season, Newcastle took the lead in a game but failed to go on to take all three points.
It’s unlikely they’ll have played better in any of those matches than they did this evening. If they continue to perform like that, surely their fortunes will change in the not-too-distant future.
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter Match stats from St James’
Manchester United may have dominated the possession and passing, but didn’t come close to matching Newcastle’s energy and intensity.
Allan Saint-Maximin ended the evening with as many shots on target to his name as the entire United team.
Full time – Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
Manchester United pass up one more opportunity to pressure Newcastle, and Craig Pawson calls time on what has been a thrilling, frantic contest at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s men will rue their missed chances – as well as potential injuries to Callum Wilson and goalscorer Allan Saint-Maximin – but can take heart from a positive performance full of desire and belief.
Manchester United improved marginally in the second half following the introduction of their super sub Edinson Cavani, but Ralf Rangnick will not have been impressed by what he witnessed.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
90+3. A nightmare for Dubravka! The Newcastle goalkeeper drops what should be a routine catch from an overhit United cross, and it lands right at the feet of Sancho.
The United substitute is unable to get an immediate shot away, and nor can Cavani, who Sancho lays a pass back to.
Instead, Cavani lofts the ball goalwards to where Cristiano Ronaldo is lurking, but Schar darts in and thumps it to safety before the forward can intervene.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
90+2. Schar is holding his hamstring now, which is exactly what Eddie Howe did not want to see in stoppage time.
The Newcastle club doctors will be busy tomorrow morning.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
90. Having originally signalled four minutes of stoppage time, the fourth official clarifies that there will be SIX extra minutes to be played.
Either team could still win this.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd – Newcastle double chance!
88. Wow! How has that stayed out?
Manchester United completely lose their shape at the back, and it presents Jacob Murphy with a huge area of space on the left of the area.
The substitute moves the ball on to his right foot, and then lets fly with a low curler that crashes against the post and bounces back into play.
The visitors fail to clear their lines, and instead the ball is worked back to another substitute, Almiron. The Paraguayan takes aim and fires towards the top corner, only to see it brilliantly tipped over by De Gea.
Newcastle can count themselves so unlucky.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
86. Now the noise returns from the Newcastle support.
Does their team have one last push in them?
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
85. Five minutes remain, and St James’ is suddenly an anxious arena, having been a cauldron for most of the evening.
It’s perhaps not even the prospect of failing to take all three points this evening, but more that they may now face their most winnable run of fixtures without their two keys attackers.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd – Newcastle sub
83. Saint-Maximin is unable to continue, and hobbles off while shaking his head.
Dwight Gayle – remember him? – is on in the Frenchman’s place, and has the opportunity to make himself a hero.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
81. Oh no! Newcastle have already lost Callum Wilson to injury, and now Allan Saint-Maximin has pulled up.
The goalscorer appears to have tweaked a muscle as he looked to wrestle free of his marker.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
80. A low cross beats Dubravka and rolls across a deserted six-yard box.
Newcastle aren’t exactly hanging on, but the energy, enthusiasm and confidence of the first 70 minutes has now gone.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd – Man Utd sub
78. Ralf Rangnick makes his final change of the game.
The United boss introduces Nemanja Matic for the final 12 minutes, replacing Scott McTominay.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
75. United’s tails are up, and Cavani almost steals in for a second at the far post.
Dubravka and his defence will now have to have their wits about them in the final quarter of an hour – plus injury time, of course.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
73. And now the nerves have set in around St James’ Park.
Remember, they have already dropped 17 points from winning positions this season. They deserve all three tonight, but may yet end the evening with none.
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
71. Edinson Cavani equalises!
Diogo Dalot gets in behind on the right, perhaps for the first time this evening, and squares a smart pass into the centre of the penalty area.
Lurking with intent is Cavani, who, despite seeing his first attempt blocked by a defender, reacts quickly to chest down and roll the rebound into the net.
It’s harsh on Newcastle, but Manchester United’s supersub has done it once again, and – out of nowhere – the visitors are level.
Goal – Manchester United level it up!
Edinson Cavani was sent on to score, and the old master has done just that.
It’s the Uruguayan’s second of the season, and it could not have been timed better.
Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd – Joelinton yellow card
70. He’s been a combination of Claude Makelele and Sergio Busquets combined this evening, but Joelinton will have to tread carefully for the final 20 minutes.
The Brazlian is cautioned after being adjudged to have caught Varane with a high boot.
Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd – Maguire yellow card
68. Harry Maguire scythes down Allan Saint-Maximin on the touchline, much to the fury of the Newcastle dugout and those fans in the nearest stand.
It’s brings the third yellow card in quick succession.
Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd – Krafth yellow card
66. It’s getting a little feisty out there.
Emil Krafth finds himself on the wrong side of Marcus Rashford, and so decides to cynically trips the forward to stop him launching a break. It’s another caution.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
