Ritchie strike helps Magpies stun United
LONDON: Matt Ritchie lifted the gloom on Tyneside with the winner in Newcastle United’s crucial 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday -- their first three-point haul at home since October.
Newcastle had fallen into the bottom three before kickoff after Huddersfield Town’s earlier win, but they responded with a vibrant display capped by Ritchie’s 65th minute effort.
Ritchie was released into space by Dwight Gayle’s flick and he buried a low shot past David de Gea. Gayle was also unlucky not to be awarded a first-half penalty but United were guilty of wasteful finishing with Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez the culprits.
The visitors almost grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser but debutant goalkeeper Martin Dubravka made a marvellous low save after the ball deflected off one of his own players from close range. Newcastle’s first win over United for five years lifted them from 18th to 13th while Jose Mourinho’s second-placed side are now 16 points behind local rivals Manchester City.
Mourinho has never won a fixture at St James’ Park in seven visits, drawing three and losing four. Earlier, Huddersfield Town snapped a five-match losing sequence to beat in-form Bournemouth 4-1 and move out of the relegation zone.
NOT MY FAULT: CONTE
LONDON: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes blame should be shared for the dramatic slump that has the Italian fighting for his job. A 4-1 thrashing at Watford on Monday followed an embarrassing 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in Chelsea’s last home game to leave the blues in serious risk of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The former Juventus coach accused his players of performing “with fear” and lacking “personality” as they surrendered meekly by conceding three times in the final 10 minutes at Vicarage Road. “When you have this period with such poor results, you have to divide the responsibility between me, the players and the club,” said Conte.
WENGER’S FEARS
LONDON: Arsene Wenger conceded Arsenal’s hopes of ending their Champions League exile are in severe danger after their 1-0 defeat to Tottenham. “It’s a game we couldn’t afford to lose, it makes it much more difficult,” Wenger said.
“We have to fight, there was more at stake than just the derby, that’s why it’s so disappointing. It’s very disappointing because the priority is to be in the Champions League via the top four. I’m not a big fan of the Europa League winner getting into the Champions League. It’s not right, but if it is an opportunity we have to take it.”