MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED: A first-half goal from Patrick Dorgu caught Newcastle cold and game Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United a welcome three points
Manchester United put some early pressure on the teams above them with a hard-fought win at home to Newcastle on Boxing Day. Patrick Dorgu scored the winner, enjoying the freedom given to him by head coach Ruben Amorim.
United had an early sight of goal when Casemiro rose highest to meet a corner from the left but he couldn’t keep his header down. They kept plugging away, though, and were rewarded when Dorgu volleyed home a stunning opener midway through the first half.
They were close to a second just before the hour mark when Benjamin Sesko’s effort beat Aaron Ramsdale but clipped the top of the bar. Newcastle hit the woodwork themselves moments later, though, with Lewis Hall’s 25-yard effort crashing back off the bar with Senne Lammens flailing.
The visitors continued to put the pressure on as the game ticked on, with Anthony Gordon dragging an effort wide. The cavalry arrived moments later, with Eddie Howe introducing Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes and Joelinton as his side chased a leveller.
Diogo Dalot missed a golden chance for a second, breaking beyond the Newcastle back-line but lifting his effort over the bar, while Matheus Cunha dragged an effort of his own well wide after a driving run. One goal was enough, though, and here are our talking points from Old Trafford.
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1. Dorgu announces himself
Nearly 11 months after joining Manchester United, Patrick Dorgu finally has his first goal for the club. It was a thumper, too, with the Dane running onto Nick Woltemade’s headed clearance and thumping the ball out of the reach of Aaron Ramsdale.
Former Lecce star Dorgu clearly had an eye for goal after getting his opener, putting Ramsdale to the test with a low right-footed effort before half-time. He spent the whole game high up the pitch, be that on the right or the left, and caused problems throughout.
Earlier in the season, Ruben Amorim said he wanted to see Dorgu show more of his Denmark form in a United shirt. Odds are this was the kind of thing he was after.
2. Fernandes curse lifted
Manchester United saw Bruno Fernandes forced off against Aston Villa, and that will have been a worry. In their last seven league games without their captain in the starting XI, they had taken just one point.
Amorim recognised it would be a tall order making up for the skipper’s absence but insisted United had options. Indeed, for the first 45 minutes you’d have been hard-pressed to tell which was the team missing a key player.
United looked down to the bare bones late on, and there was even a rare outing from the bench for Tyrell Malacia. They weren’t doing things the easy way, but they won’t complain about the result.
3. United back four stuns Newcastle
After dismissing the idea time and time again, Ruben Amorim appeared to abandon his usual back three – at least at the start of the game. Patrick Dorgu moved into a right wing role in front of Diogo Dalot, with Luke Shaw staying wide at left-back as Ayden Heaven partnered Lisandro Martinez in the middle.
Now, don’t get us wrong, there’s every chance the change was made out of pure necessity. Both Noussair Mazraoui and Amad are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, robbing United of two more natural wing-back options, while Dorgu might also have been used there were he not filling in for another AFCON absentee in Bryan Mbeumo.
Certainly, the move appeared to catch Newcastle by surprise. A message arrived with Lewis Hall during a stoppage, allowing the visitors to put their own adjustments into force.
United remained on top before adding an extra centre-back in the form of Leny Yoro. That too was a bait-and-switch, though, with the Frenchman moving to right-back and Dalot thrust forward onto the wing.
4. Fletcher’s moment in the sun
Before kick-off, some United fans were making the case for Jack Fletcher to start. The teenager had made his Premier League debut on Sunday and might have fancied his chances with Fernandes injured, but instead started on the bench.
At the start of the second half, though, Mason Mount’s withdrawal gave the youngster his chance. That meant an advanced role to begin with, and Fletcher was forced to be flexible as others were withdrawn.
Fletcher’s twin brother Tyler was also on the bench for United, among a youthful selection, with Tyler Fredricson introduced late on. United might be far from full strength, but the future is starting to look bright.
5. Man Utd’s revenge mission
This time last year, United put in one of their most miserable first half displays of the early part of Ruben Amorim’s tenure. They found themselves 2-0 down inside 20 minutes before Amorim ruthlessly substituted Joshua Zirkzee before half-time.
It was a different story this time. Tonight, Amorim’s side were the ones starting quickly and their opponents – barring a few brief flashes – didn’t really get a foothold until the second period.
There was even time for Zirkzee to pursue a redemption arc on his personal level after arriving for the final half-hour. It was Newcastle doing most of the attacking by then, though, with the hosts’ task one of containment, but revenge will have no doubt been sweet.
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