More misery for Mourinho as Ritchie stuns United

IT’S a wonder that Jose Mourinho still loves the Geordies after this.

The Manchester United boss may have lived up to his new well-behaved image but his players were far from at their Sunday best on Tyneside.

Matt Ritchie’s first goal of the season in the 66th minute means Mourinho has yet to win a league game at St James’ Park after seven attempts as boss of United and Chelsea.

Mentor

Defeat leaves United 16 points behind leaders Manchester City and while Mourinho claims to have a soft spot for the club once managed by his mentor Sir Bobby Robson, there was not much to enjoy about his team’s display.

They had chances to win and Newcastle rode their luck.

But far too often United, with Paul Pogba a notable culprit, were slap-dash and off the pace. The same could not be levelled at a fired-up Newcastle side who won a league game on home soil for the first time since October.

The result catapulted them up the table and if they maintain this form, then at least Mourinho’s prediction that Rafa Benitez’s side will stay up should be vindicated.

The winner was brilliantly worked and clinically executed.

Jonjo Shelvey, outstanding throughout, lofted a free-kick into the box, Florian Lejeune connected with a meaty header and Dwight Gayle touched it into the path of Ritchie, who finished expertly. Newcastle’s goal was under siege in the dying minutes.

Anthony Martial had two shots blocked and with the last kick of the game, Michael Carrick was foiled by keeper Martin Dubravka, who excelled on his first appearance.

Newcastle’s record against sides in the top half of the table – just two points out of 36 – suggested an inferiority complex.

But from the outset, they showed scant respect for their high-flying opponents and could have taken an early lead.

Kenedy’s fifth-minute set-piece could not breach United’s defensive wall, but the ball came out to Shelvey, whose effort brought a wonderful one-handed save out of David De Gea.

Then after Mo Diame nudged Nemanja Matic out of possession, Ayoze Perez’s first-time strike from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide.

St James’ Park had been subdued at kickoff, partly down to Huddersfield’s win against Bournemouth which plunged