Newcastle United Football Club - Match reports

Half time: Red Devils 0 Magpies 0

Full time: Red Devils 0 Magpies 0

We Said

Eddie Howe:

"Certainly in the first half, I feel we should've been leading. I thought we executed the game plan really well, we were aggressive and on the front foot. We unsettled their rhythm and there were those moments for Joelinton which could have been very different.

"He's unlucky with the first header as it was a brilliant effort and he's unlucky with the second one as well. I thought we could've had a penalty as well with Callum Wilson's challenge.

"Physically we seemed to suffer in the second half as there was a bit of illness in the camp in midweek. There were a couple of players playing today who weren't 100% fit.

"Maybe that was one of the reasons and I don't think we were great on the ball either today. We gave the ball away at times which was uncharacteristic of us. That takes its toll on you physically.

"I think, especially in the first half, we had our moments. Joe(Linton) has hit the woodwork twice, and that’s obviously a big moment in the game.

"I think Callum Wilson also had a very strong penalty shout and we had other moments and chances too, where in the last couple of weeks, we’ve been better with the ball in and around the box. We weren’t quite there today.

"But I’m still very proud of the players, and what they gave in the game. I’m pleased with the result, and the defensive performance.

"I think the hallmark of a good team is being hard to beat. Defensive solidity is so important, being difficult to score against, and I have to compliment the players on delivering those things for us consistently.

"The challenge is to continue with that consistency, while not losing our attacking edge, and I just thought we were a little bit off today with the ball, which hasn’t been like us in the last few weeks when we’ve scored nine goals in two games.

"Alex(ander Isak) has re-injured his thigh. It’s a very similar injury to the first one that he picked up with Sweden. He’s going to be out for a period of time – we probably won’t see him before the break for the World Cup.

"Maxi has a very slight irritation of his hamstring. On its own, that would be very small and probably just be a few days out, but the problem we have is that because it’s the third time he’s done it, we’re going to have to be very careful."

They Said

Erik ten Hag (who gave Sven Botman his senior Ajax debut in 2018) said:

"The performance was good, a clean sheet, we pressed well, we controlled the game and in stages we were good on the ball - especially in the second half.

"Then, we dictated the game and in the end we could - we should - have scored the winning goal. One from Fred, and then Rashford had to score.

"In the end we could have got the win, we deserved the win, and it is a big compliment to the team that we deserved this with a physical performance against one of the most physical teams in the league. They all had cramp and we kept going."

Asked about what he said to the officials at full time:

"I don't have a comment, everyone has seen it. As I said, I shared that with (them). Everyone has seen what happened today on the pitch, so I don't have a comment.

"As I said, I share (my views) with them. You can try, eh? Everyone has seen the game. You have to judge the performance from the teams and from the refs, not me. I don't have a comment on the ref's performance.

"We have a squad and you see in the last weeks, we have more than 11 players who can contribute and also this team played really well."

"I think we had 15 attempts, yeah? But it will come. Sometimes you are in a period, you are in that stage, but our strikers will score, will score a lot, I'm confident about that as long as we keep doing the work in and out of possession.

"We score in almost every game. Today we didn't but in all of the other games we score. It's clear, it's always about taking responsibility, I am convinced our strikers will take responsibility, but also other players in our team: midfielders, and defenders can also score goals."

Stats

Nick Pope's tenth PL appearance for Newcastle brought him a fourth clean sheet - matching the starts Shaka Hislop and Shay Given made for the club in that competiton but one behind Mike Hooper, who managed five.

Six draws from Newcastle's opening 10 league games is the highest in any season since 1924/25, matching the total in the same timeframe.

Callum Wilson completed a half century of PL games for the Magpies (45 starts). That came from a possible 86 games in that competition.

Two competitive outings for the white and green change strip now and two draws (1-1 at Wolves the other instance).

NUFC last 11 PL seasons after ten games:
2011/12 22 points, 3rd (scored 15, conceded 7)
2012/13 14 points, 10th (scored 12, conceded 14)
2013/14 14 points, 9th (scored 14, conceded 16)
2014/15 13 points, 12th (scored 11, conceded 15)
2015/16 6 points, 18th (scored 12, conceded 22)
2017/18 14 points, 9th (scored 10, conceded 9)
2018/19 3 points, 19th (scored 6, conceded 14)
2019/20 9 points, 17th (scored 6, conceded 10)
2020/21 14 points, 10th (scored 12, conceded 15)
2021/22 4 points, 19th (scored 11, conceded 23)
2022/23 15 points, 6th (scored 17, conceded 9)

Magpies v MUFC @ Old Trafford - PL era:
2022/23 drew 0-0
2021/22 lost 1-4 Manquillo
2020/21 lost 1-3 Saint-Maximin
2019/20 lost 1-4 M.Longstaff
2018/19 lost 2-3 Kenedy, Muto
2017/18 lost 1-4 Gayle
2015/16 drew 0-0
2014/15 lost 1-3 Cisse(pen)
2013/14 won 1-0 Cabaye
2012/13 lost 3-4 Perch, og(Evans), Cisse
2012/13 lost 1-2 Cisse (LC)
2011/12 drew 1-1 Ba(pen)
2010/11 lost 0-3
2008/09 drew 1-1 Martins
2007/08 lost 0-6
2006/07 lost 0-2
2005/06 lost 0-2
2004/05 lost 1-2 Ambrose
2003/04 drew 0-0
2002/03 lost 3-5 Bernard, Shearer, Bellamy
2001/02 lost 1-3 Shearer
2000/01 lost 0-2
1999/00 lost 1-5 og(Berg)
1998/99 drew 0-0
1997/98 drew 1-1 Andersson
1996/97 drew 0-0
1995/96 lost 0-2
1994/95 lost 0-2
1993/94 drew 1-1 Cole

A first point and clean sheet at Old Trafford in six attempts was a repeat of Newcastle's 0-0 draw here in August 2015. None of the visiting squad from that day were involved just over seven years later, but the Magpie manager was - Steve McClaren now back on the Manchester United coaching staff.

Waffle

Grounds and teams may come and go during our seasonal journey around the nation, but echoes of the past remain strong when visiting Old Trafford. Be it the statues and clocks outside, the presence of Denis Law inside or Megastore muppets posing with half-in-half scarves upside down, some things apparently don't change in M16.

Today's game was preceded by yet another on-pitch ceremony involving Sir Alex Ferguson, who would doubtless taken pride from the way the 2022 crop of Red Devils collectively confronted the referee during the second half. One almost expected Denis Irwin on the shoulder of moaner-in-chief Ronaldo.

Thankfully though, the heartbreak of conceding a goal in Fergie time wasn't part of our latest trip down memory lane - Marcus Rashford heading wide of Nick Pope's goal deep into the 95th minute of play.

That heart-stopping late chance threatened to undo what few Newcastle sides had done here in living memory: arrive in form, play without fear and give the hosts an uncomfortable game, not part of one. For once we didn't flatter to deceive and tail off before chucking away a point or three.

Despite the absence of Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin, the optimism among the travelling contingent was tangible; wagers of the away win variety placed and reruns of Yohan Cabaye's 2013 winner circulating.

We've been here before of course though, physically and emotionally, looking for every possible omen that today would be another "day" - be home fans unhappy with their lot, home players participating in a testing European game or Christian Eriksen failing to make the squad. Magpies were counted, knowing nods, winks and shrugs exchanged in queues and on stairs.

Not that it made any difference to the level of satisfaction (or the hangover that followed it) even that solitary victory since 1972 was achieved during the peak grumbling period that was the 10 month reign of David Moyes.

Today threatened to be different; a changing of the guard in Premier League terms courtesy of our now-superior financial backing, referenced by a twisty Jurgen Klopp with his "no ceiling" comment in the days before this game.

There was to be no memorable moment though, no inspired finish or moment of genuine quality. The nearest we'd come to that was when Kieran Trippier's 24th minute free kick ploughed into the defensive wall and his second go found the head of the unmarked Joelinton.

His first header rebounded back off the crossbar at the away end and with David de Gea beaten and on his backside, when the rebound fell straight to the same Newcastle player, history beckoned. Tragically though, his second headed attempt flew back off the post of the unguarded goal and out of play via a defender's deflection.

Other than one ball that fizzed across the six yard box but eluded Bruno Guimaraes at the back post, the double rebound was the high point of a first half that Newcastle dominated and the other United barely featured in.

The second half was closer; the hosts making and missing the majority of the chances as our influence diminished. Before that Rashford miss, Fred had looked a certain scorer from close range but scuffed his shot wide. That would have been tough to take, even at this perennial theatre of broken dreams.

Having conceded 18 goals in our previous five games here though, the clean sheet and the point that accompanied it were more than welcome. And for there to be any tinge of frustration at full time underscores the level to which expectations have grown round these parts, and with some good reason. We sit sixth on 15 points after 10 games. That took us 21 games last season.

This was a long way from a landmark display; Wilson and Almiron peripheral figures for the most part, Wood offering no more than nuisance value. But if the passing of Murphy and Fraser lacked genuine quality, what used to be called gumption was there in abundance.

That was characterised by Fabian Schar, who got in the way of everything that moved and ran himself to a standstill. Mention also for the Dutch master alongside him, an increasingly influential figure in the tightest Premier League defence currently and yet to finish on the losing side for his new club.

As we approach the anniversary of the long overdue jettisoning of Steve Bruce, one defeat in ten games this season - a luckless loss at Anfield - represents substantial progress on the field and renewed optimism off it. Coming back here and kicking their arses can wait for another day.

It bears repeating that we currently possess the meanest defence in the top flight - something that really is unheralded. Never mind that though, we're still tickled by having a positive goal difference.

Those brought in by PIF to make their football vision a reality may possess boundless confidence and contacts as they embark on their "project" without any of the baggage long-term watchers possess.

Hopefully, the long-overdue process of banishing that collective inferiority complex and the expectation that it will all go wrong is underway - but that is something that has characterised our supporting lives.

The mentality has to be that this was two points lost rather than one gained - something that arises from confidence rather than arrogance. Bobby Robson once said of Arsene Wenger that he needed to learn how to lose; the opposite applies to our fanbase, but a willingness to do so is certainly there.

Biffa