PARK AND GLIDE
Smooth sailing for Howe heroes
THE balance of power is now inexorably shifting Newcastle’s way after this latest Toon win over Manchester United.
Once a soft touch whenever the Red Devils came calling – the Geordies have still to notch up 10 wins in Premier League clashes between the two sides – recent stats point to a changing of the guard.
Since Eddie Howe took charge, Newcastle haven’t lost to United in the league – and that Carabao Cup Final defeat in February is beginning to look like a one-off, such has been the ease of the Magpies’ three wins since.
This was the first time they’ve won back-to back league games against United since 1972, the first time they’ve won three consecutive league and Cup games since 1922 and, incredibly, the first time they’ve kept three straight clean sheets against them since 1897!
Anthony Gordon was the matchwinner at St James’ Park, evading Aaron Wan-bassaka at the far post on 55 minutes to convert Kieran Tripper’s low cross following an exquisite Bruno Guimaraes’ pass.
That’s six goals already this season for the Scouser and he’s choosing his victims well, having already found the net against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The margin should have been more emphatic, with 17-year-old Lewis Miley’s goalbound shot striking Wan-bissaka’s shoulder on 80 minutes.
The win takes Newcastle above
Manchester United. It would be a shock if they are overhauled. Perhaps the clearest sign that suggested the pecking order has changed was the visitors’ blatant time-wasting before the break – ironically a tactic Erik ten Hag accused Newcastle of adopting last season.
In the opening period in particular, the Dutch coach was too focused on his own side’s deficiencies to spend any time taking the hosts apart – with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial the main targets of his ire.
They were substitutions waiting to happen long before being eventually hooked.
Andre Onana was unsurprisingly in the eye of the St James’ Park storm.
But on 17 minutes, he did provide some evidence that his manager was right after all in claiming he is one of the best shot-stoppers around, going down smartly to push away a Miguel Almiron shot.
Alexander Isak and Almiron flashed efforts just off target before Trippier came just a lick of paint away from scoring against his boyhood favourites.
Manchester United’s best chance didn’t arrive until the 82nd minute when Fabian Schar’s outstretched leg prevented sub Sergio Reguilon from equalising.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope injured himself as he dived behind his centre half – the one blot on Toon’s evening.