RED DEVILS’ ADVOCATE
We’ll answer our critics on the pitch says Fernandes after late rally guides United back to winning ways
BRUNO FERNANDES insists Manchester United will use goals and victories to deflect the fierce criticism of them.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said “the season starts here” as he left St James’ Park on Saturday.
It will still need reviving after the 6- 1 humbling by Spurs – and they will face a bigger test than Newcastle at Paris SaintGermain tomorrow.
But this was a start to quiten uncertainty around Solskjaer and Harry Maguire.
The probing Juan Mata left the pitch to chants of Mago – Magician – from United’s noisy bench after completing 59 of 63 passes, 32 of them forward.
Marcus Rashford, playing as a No9, ran the Magpies ragged with his pace while Maguire emerged from his England red card with a big goal.
The sloppy side that collapsed to Spurs was ruthlessly rejigged – with Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic benched. United had 28 shots, the most this season in a Premier League game, 14 on target, and only goalkeeper Karl Darlow denied them more.
“The team has big players and characters,” Fernandes said. “The game against Tottenham can’t happen again. This club is better than that.
“This was perfect after that defeat. Everyone is saying we need a defender, midfielder, striker but it is easy from the outside. We need to look out for each other and be positive. We’ll defend ourselves on the pitch.”
PSG will not crumble like Steve Bruce’s side. Three goals from the 86th minute changed Solskjaer’s mood. One down after 102 seconds to Luke Shaw’s own goal, United clawed back to exploit a tired defence.
Maguire glanced home a header for a first- half equaliser and Fernandes said: “Harry is captain of one of the world’s biggest teams and plays for England. He has a great mentality and has to keep doing what he is doing.”
Newcastle played for a draw, though Allan Saint- Maximin hit a post. Fernandes missed his first United penalty but put his side ahead with a curling shot. “I am human,” he joked.
Aaron Wan- Bissaka crashed in his first United goal and Rashford hit No4.
NEWCASTLE ( 4- 1- 4- 1): Darlow 7; Krafth 6, Lascelles 5, Fernandez 6, Lewis 6; Hayden 6 ( Schar 49, 6); Shelvey 5, Hendrick 5 ( Almiron 88), Joelinton 5 ( Fraser 72, 5), Saint- Maximin 7, Wilson 6. Goal: Shaw 2 og. MAN UTD ( 4- 2- 3- 1): De Gea 7; WanBissaka 7, Lindelof 6 ( Van der Beek 76), Maguire 7, Shaw 6; McTominay 7, Fred 6 ( Pogba 68, 6); Mata 8 ( Matic 90), Fernandes 7, James 6; Rashford 7. Goals: Maguire 23, Fernandes 86, Wan- Bissaka 90, Rashford 90.