Newcastle United have moved above Manchester United into third spot in the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-0 win over the Red Devils at St James’ Park.
Joe Willock made the breakthrough in the 65th minute of the contest before Callum Wilson netted a second for the home side in the final exchanges, with Eddie Howe’s side fully deserving of the three points.
Newcastle are now third in the division, ahead of Man United on goal difference, with the Red Devils one point clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.
The Toon Army’s big day out at Wembley was ruined in February when Erik Ten Hag’s side strolled to a 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup final.
But with the bit between their teeth, Newcastle steamrollered the Red Devils to thoroughly deserve this potentially seismic three points.
Man United might be going great guns in the cups but their league form is stuttering. A 7-0 drubbing to Liverpool, a goalless draw at home to Southampton, and then this mauling which left Ten Hag shellshocked on the St James’ Park touchline.
They remain a point of fifth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand yet, based on this evidence, they have a mammoth task on to finish inside the top four.
After their mid-winter wobble, including that heartbreaking defeat at Wembley, Toon were back on the trail of a top four finish following two straight wins.
The locals were all revved up and ready to go and Manchester United could have been three or four down at the break but for David de Gea and some woeful finishing.
The Spanish keeper’s double save kept out Alexander Isak and Willock early doors. Willock really should have done better with the rebound from point-blank range, and there were a good 50,000 heads in hands inside St James’ when the midfielder blazed over with the goal gaping just before half time.
Lackluster Man United failed to muster a shot on target by the break, the first time they had done so this season.