Newcastle United now genuine challengers for a Champions League place – A few short weeks

In partnership with

The Mag

·01 de janeiro de 2025

Newcastle United now genuine challengers for a Champions League place – A few short weeks

Twenty minutes into our encounter at Old Trafford, we had all been assured of a Happy New Year.

Eddie and the Hotrods weren’t messing about and the glory hunting Salford fans were sulking in the stands.

Vídeos OneFootball

That’s only the third time in 52 years we have defeated this lot on their own patch in the League, since February 1972.

A Tony Green masterclass in 1972 did the trick in a one-sided 2-0 win. This result came straight after our infamous exit to Hereford United in the FA Cup.

Yohan Cabaye scored the only goal in 2013, Manchester United were then the reigning Premier League Champions.

Times are changing. Man U aren’t a footballing powerhouse anymore.

They are in decline, whilst Newcastle United are on the rise.

Newcastle finished above this rabble last season and they won’t see us for dust in 2025.

I received a book called ‘All With Smiling Faces’ for Christmas. It covers our club’s first 30 years, from it’s foundation as Stanley FC in 1881 to it’s triumphant FA Cup win 1910.

About what it was like to support Newcastle United in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, why the bond between the club and it’s supporters remained so strong.

That bond is still as strong today.

Every Geordie’s heart was bursting with pride as we ran Man U ragged for large parts of that first half.

Our team has been rejuvenated by Eddie Howe and his staff in December. He’s Manager of the Month elect for sure.

Alexander Isak is scoring goals for fun and is even having the luxury (if there is such a thing) of missing sitters.

Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy are grafting hard to support Alex and are currently undroppable.

Sandro Tonali has been awesome and Bruno is getting back to being the player we all know. Not to be left out, Joelinton is also right back on form.

Big Dan Burn has been tremendous at the back and Lewis Hall continues to impress down the left, with a maturity beyond his 19 years.

I must give a special shout out to Martin Dubravka here. I was vocal in saying two years ago that I never wanted to see him in a Toon team again.

Dubs came back from Man Utd with his tail between his legs but has been a model pro ever since. He is now reaping his reward in the first team and becoming as popular again, as he was when he was signed and played under Rafa.

Amazingly, within a few short weeks Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United have emerged as genuine challengers for a Champions League place.

A trip to Wembley could also be on the horizon. The way we are now playing I think we can tank anyone, especially the Gunners.

As is the norm, there was a match thread covering the game on a popular Sunderland message board, this was immediately shut down after the game, as the jealous mackems went into meltdown mode.

This always amuses and makes me happy, as the gulf gets ever bigger between the Tyne and Wear rivals. It’s also the reason why I don’t want derbies and prefer Sunderland as low as possible in the EFL.

Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 2 – Monday 30 December 8pm

Newcastle United:

Isak 4, Joelinton 19

(In brackets the half-time stats)

Possession was Newcastle 47% (51%) Man U 53% (49%)

Total shots were Newcastle 12 (11) Man U 10 (3)

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 (4) Man U 1 (0)

Corners were Newcastle 3 (3) Man U 2 (0)

Touches in the box Newcastle 19 (16) Man U 17 (3)

Newcastle United team v Manchester United:

Dubravka, Trippier (Livramento 58), Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Murphy (Barnes 85), Isak, Gordon (Willock 85)

Unused subs: