Joe Willock and Callum Wilson helped Newcastle leapfrog Manchester United as they produced one of the most comfortable football scores of the weekend in the Premier League. Willock, a Newcastle midfielder, saw one spectacular chance saved on the floor by David de Gea before firing another effort over before halftime, but he answered with the goal on 65 minutes by heading in from close range after a smart play from the hosts. Substitute Callum Wilson then added the frosting on the cake, heading in a second from a set-piece with three minutes remaining to bring Champions League football to St James’ Park next season a bit closer. In truth, the Magpies could have put more past Erik ten Hag’s side, who started Marcus Rashford after he missed England’s international duty but only managed one shot on target in a lackluster performance.
It’s unclear how Newcastle failed to score in the first half. Manchester United failed to record a shot on target before halftime for the first time this season, as Howe’s side dominated proceedings. Sean Longstaff had the opening chance of the afternoon when he well picked down Alexander Isak’s knockdown in the area but miskicked from 12 yards out. But, Isak had the finest chance of the half in 16 minutes when he headed Jacob Murphy’s cross goalwards from six yards out. De Gea only parried the shot as far as Willock, whose rebounded effort deflected off the Man United goalie and away.
Newcastle applied pressure for the majority of the first half, with Murphy blazing over and Isak denied by a superb block from inside the box by the returning Raphael Varane. Willock then wasted a second gilt-edged chance of the game when Longstaff tried his luck from 20 yards out, his ferocious shot whistling just beyond De Gea’s top corner. Allan Saint-Maximin, who had been causing havoc on the right side of the visiting defense all afternoon, went on a mazy move before bringing the ball back to the Newcastle midfielder, who was leaning back and firing over from a similar position to his previous chance.
However, Wout Weghorst hit the side netting early on and Antony acrobatically volleyed over from a corner when a simpler finish was on for Manchester United in the first half. Antony fired an effort straight at Nick Pope for the visitors’ first shot on goal, but it wasn’t long before Newcastle grabbed their deserved opener. Isak fed Bruno Guimaraes on the right wing, and the Brazilian clipped a pass to Saint-Maximin at the back post. Willock ultimately broke De Gea’s resistance as the Frenchman nodded back, throwing St James’ Park into raptures.
The Magpies came close to scoring again as Joelinton caused De Gea to tip the ball onto the bar, with Fabian Schar heading the rebound into the post. The visitors then brought some form of vitality into the situation. Fernandes’ long ball forward teed up Anthony Martial in the box, but the substitute’s shot was diverted just wide with Pope caught off guard. Victor Lindelof, another substitute, headed over the subsequent corner as United’s subs provided more threat than their starting had all afternoon. But it was Newcastle who got the game-winning second when Wilson nodded in Trippier’s pass late on.
It was advertised as a fight of the Brunos, and the Newcastle one won. Both Guimaraes and Fernandes had the same number of touches in the game, but it was what the players did with and without the ball that was important. The Newcastle midfielder put in an outstanding all-around performance, earning him man-of-the-match honors. He won four times as many midfield balls as Fernandes and completed more final third passes and take-ons than anybody else on the pitch.
And his contribution to Joe Willock’s first goal for Newcastle in their 2-0 victory over Manchester United cannot be understated. It summed up how Guimaraes is at the heart of everything excellent that Newcastle does, connecting up effectively with Alexander Isak before sending in a lovely second assist. On Sunday, Fernandes could only watch and fantasize about what was happening. According to their own manager and left-back, Manchester United lacked passion and determination at St James Park. This served as a reminder that Fernandes was the one wearing the armband.
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