TEARS & CHEERS AS MATTY ROCKS REDS
Longstaff marked his first Premier League start with the second-half winner to leave Newcastle singing in the rain at St James’ Park.
The 19-year-old became the youngest player to score on his league debut for the Toon, as well as handing Steve Bruce his first managerial win over his old club.
Longstaff, featuring in the same team as older brother Sean – who United tried to sign in the summer – provided the one moment of magic in a damp squib of a game when he ran on to Jetro Willems’ pass on 72 minutes and drilled a low drive past David de Gea. He was then overcome with emotion as he celebrated. United must have felt like shedding tears of their own following another crushing result for the fallen giants and their beleaguered boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The visitors were so bad they achieved the impossible and made Newcastle look good. It is 23 years since the Toon demolished United 5-0 on this ground, back in the days when this fixture was a true footballing blockbuster that gripped the nation. But times have changed and these two mediocre teams are now treading water. This might have been a game on ‘Super Sunday’ according to Sky Sports, but ‘Shambolic Sunday’ might have been more appropriate given the circumstances.
In terms of creating opportunities, Bruce’s men looked prolific compared to out-of-sorts United. But it was the visitors who wasted the best one of all on the stroke of half-time when Harry Maguire headed wide from six yards.
Longstaff then made United pay to leave Solskjaer’s team just two points above the drop zone in 12th spot – and facing a growing crisis that might mean Old Trafford chiefs have no choice but to sack yet another manager.
NEWCASTLE (5-4-1): Dubravka 7; Yedlin 7, Schar 7, Lascelles 6, Clark 6, Willems 7; Almiron 6 (Krafth 90), M Longstaff 8, S Longstaff 7, Saint-Maximin 7 (Atsu 83); Joelinton 5 (Carroll 56, 6). Goal: M Longstaff 72. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6; Dalot 6 (Rojo 60, 6), Tuanzebe 6, Maguire 5, Young 6 (Chong 86); Fred 3, McTominay 7; Pereira 6, Mata 6 (Greenwood 66, 6), James 6; Rashford 5.