March’s international break arguably came at the wrong time for Newcastle who had started to regain the sort of pre-Christmas form that initially opened up the possibility of a first Champions League appearance in 20 years.
Regardless, they were able to continue that momentum via an impressive first-half display and Eddie Howe’s side could well have taken a deserved lead as early as the 16th minute.
Jacob Murphy’s chipped ball into the area was met by Alexander Isak, who headed on target but saw his effort pushed away by David de Gea, before Joe Willock’s effort on the rebound was fired straight at the Spaniard.
Backed by a typically-vocal home crowd, the Magpies continued suffocating their visitors as the minutes ticked towards half-time. Yet, they remained bereft of a killer instinct in the final third, as Sean Longstaff’s speculative effort from 25 yards out flew just wide of the left post.
There was still time for another good Newcastle chance before half-time as the ever-threatening Allan Saint-Maximin pulled the ball back to Willock, but the midfielder’s effort from inside the area went over the crossbar as ten Hag’s men breathed a sigh of relief.
Perhaps feeding off the emotion of a crowd that had seen Newcastle pipped to a maiden Premirer League title by the Red Devils on three occasions in the 1990s, the Tynesiders’ superiority continued after half-time, and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead.
Bruno Guimarães chipped a ball to the back post, allowing Saint-Maximin to nod back for the unmarked Willock, who headed home from a couple of yards out to send the Geordie faithful into raptures.
That proved to be the Frenchman’s last contribution in a solid personal performance as Joelinton replaced him from the bench as part of a double substitution. Benefitting from fresh legs, substitute Callum Wilson rounded the game off in style late on, heading in a flighted Kieran Tripper free-kick to send the ball in off the far post.
Newcastle duly leapfrog their opponents into third place after ending a near four-year wait for success in this fixture, while a sorely below-par Man United have now failed to score in three straight league games for the first time since 2020.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United)
