MATCH REPORT: Anthony Gordon helps Newcastle ease to comfortable 1-0 win over Manchester United

Newcastle jumped to fifth in the Premier League courtesy of a commanding 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Saturday night.

Anthony Gordon’s second-half finish proved enough to secure all three points for the Magpies, and although substitute Antony had a late goal disallowed after his shot went in off an offside Harry Maguire, the visitors didn’t offer enough to warrant taking anything out of the game.

On what was a freezing evening, both Eddie Howe and Erik ten Hag turned to youth to plug gaps created by their respective injury crises - Lewis Miley, 17, and Kobbie Mainoo, 18, started in midfield for the hosts and visitors respectively having impressed in the previous gameweek.

Post-investment Newcastle have rarely lacked confidence, but the authority with which they started the encounter put paid to any concerns of a hangover following Tuesday’s controversial last-minute draw in Paris. Howe’s men were first to every 50:50, with full-backs Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento bombing on and Alexander Isak linking up the play nicely.

As in midweek, VAR failed to come to the Magpies’ aid in the 10th minute when Diogo Dalot’s scuffed clearance ricocheted off his arm inside the 18-yard box - although even the staunchest Newcastle fan would have struggled to make a case for referee Robert Jones to award a penalty.

Looking to inject some life into his side, Bruno Fernandes played a lovely weighted through-ball into the path of Alejandro Garnacho down Manchester’s left. The Argentinian perhaps took a moment too long before striking the ball straight at Nick Pope from an ever-narrowing angle. All eyes were on his opposite number Andre Onana following a difficult outing at Galatasaray, but the Cameroonian pulled off an impressive stop to deny Miguel Almiron following a neat Joelinton pick-out from the right byline.

Newcastle dominated the first half in all departments and should have broken the deadlock when tidy interplay between Bruno Guimaires and Almiron down the right led to a wicked cross which fell to Isak, but his effort from eight yards deflected just wide off the heel of Maguire.

The home side went close through Almiron just past the half-hour mark after the Paraguayan blasted a left-footed strike wide, but saw their best chance of the half go begging minutes later when Trippier’s sweetly-struck free-kick rattled the crossbar. The defender’s attempt from 25 yards out looked destined for the top left corner but just didn’t dip quickly enough as Onana watched the ball drop down in front of the goalline on which he was left rooted to.

The traveling fans would have hoped ten Hag’s half-time team talk would have inspired a reaction out of his side but the second period continued in much the same vein as the first. Newcastle remained the hungrier side and their pressure finally told in the 55th minute as Gordon opened the scoring. Luke Shaw’s clearance was picked off in midfield; the ball fell to Guimaraes who played the ball into the path of an onrushing Trippier. The full-back fizzed a delivery across the face of goal for Newcastle’s number 10 to tap in at the back post.

Instead of spurring the Red Devils on, the goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of a side who had themselves suffered European disappointment this week, relinquishing a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 in Turkey. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were hauled off on the hour mark for Rasmus Hojlund and Antony but neither were able to change the dynamics of the game.

A successful night for teenager Miley could have been even more memorable had his effort from close range not been cleared off the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Replays showed that the ball struck the Manchester United defender’s arm, but only having come off his thigh.

Despite Newcastle’s dominance, the 1-0 scoreline kept the door open for their opponents. Sergio Reguilon’s long range sighter was cleared by Schar, but came at significant cost to both the Magpies and Gareth Southgate’s England as Pope aggravated his shoulder diving to parry the strike and was forced off.

Manchester United had the ball in the back of the net late on after Antony brought down a cross from the left before firing past substitute ‘keeper Martin Dubravka, but the strike was chalked off having deflected off Maguire who was standing in an offside position. The visitors looked dangerous in the nine minutes of stoppage time but it was too little, too late as the home side dealt with all comers, led by the imperious Schar.

The victory takes Newcastle within two points of the top four and ends Manchester United’s three game win streak. The visitors fall to seventh in the table.

Newcastle United: Pope (Duvbrakva 86'), Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento, Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Gordon (Ritchie 90+7'), Isak

Substitutes: Dubravka, Dummett, Ritchie, Krafth, Karius, Hall, Diallo, Murphy, Parkinson

Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Shaw, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka (Reguilon 80'), McTominay, Mainoo (Amrabat 80'), Fernandes, Rashford (Antony 61'), Garnacho, Martial (Hojlund 61')

Substitutes: Bayindir, Lindelof, Amrabat, Hojlund, Reguilon, Varane, Anthony, Pellistri, van de Beek