Newcastle spring Into the Top Three After Crucial Home Win
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On the first Sunday of the month of April, Newcastle earned themselves one of their biggest victories this season by defeating Manchester United 2-0. It was two second half goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson that sunk the Red Devils to their seventh league loss this season. A crucial win that holds top-four implications for other teams outside of these two. This win sees Newcastle level Manchester United on points at 50, and currently moves them into third place because of goal differential.
Newcastle didn’t waste any time threatening the United back four; only 15 minutes in and David de Gea was forced to make an outstanding double save. First on the header from Alexander Isak and another as he laid flat on the ground and a Newcastle player fired it right at him. Then right before halftime, Sean Longstaff had a goa; of his own from 25 yards out through the run of play that just whistled past the top left-hand corner of de Gea’s net.
Halfway through the second half Newcastle finally got the breakthrough many would have said they deserved. After Isak played Bruno Guimaraes through into the United box, the Brazilian picked his head up and played a perfect ball to the back post. That’s when Allan Saint-Maximin headed it back into the six-yard box for an oncoming Joe Willock to head it into an empty net. United were fortunate not to concede the second goal ten minutes later, after two Newcastle efforts hit the crossbar and then the left post off a corner kick they had drawn up.
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United were close to equalizing through Anthony Martial’s effort that was blocked and deflected away from the goal. Newcastle also delivered various body shots to the United defense after they had scored. Joe Willock had another chance he missed as he shot it too far to the right of the goal. However, the knockout blow would come in with three minutes left in the game. Kieran Trippier sent in a cross just in front of the right corner flag to find the glancing header from Callum Wilson and give Newcastle a two goal advantage.
A big talking point before the game was the absence of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen for Manchester United. The two holding midfielders would be unquestionable starters, but Casemiro is still serving that four match ban and Erikson is not fully healthy yet. They could get by with only one of them missing, but it was clear in this game that when neither play, the level of the entire team drops pretty drastically. It was evident that Newcastle was able to maneuver through their midfield with ease and were always running at the United defenders with no cover in front of them.
At the time of writing this article, United will be playing their next league game at home against Brentford. Not a simple task after Brentford has given the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal trouble when they were also visiting those top teams. Newcastle will also play on Wednesday on the road against West Ham United. Another great opportunity for Newcastle to reinforce their stay within the top four since West Ham have been very disappointing this season and currently find themselves in the relegation battle.
