Man United vs Newcastle live: Hosts survive onslaught to claim victory and clean sheet in Premier League’s Boxing Day battle
Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle: Patrick Dorgu scored a stunning volley as the hosts held on to keep a rare Premier League clean sheet
Manchester United withstood a second-half onslaught from Newcastle United to move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League as Patrick Dorgu’s stunning volley secured Ruben Amorim’s side a first home win in two months.
Dorgu’s first United goal was a beauty as the 21-year-old wing-back thundered a headed clearance from Nick Woltemade past Aaron Ramsdale and into the net on the full volley.
It was all Newcastle after the break as Eddie Howe’s visitors pinned the hosts into their own half, with Lewis Hall cracking the underside of the crossbar and Anthony Gordon dragging wide.
But United, who were without captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes, held on to claim just their second clean sheet of the season and could have added to their tally on the break as Benjamin Sesko also struck the crossbar and Diogo Dalot fired over on the counter-attack.
Follow all of the latest from the Premier League clash with our live blog below
What next for Newcastle?
Eddie Howe’s side have another away game - this time at Howe’s former club Burnley - on 30 December. If they don’t add a second Premier League away win against a team struggling in the relegation zone then I would imagine Howe starts to come under some pressure...
What next for Manchester United?
It’s Wolves at home next for Manchester United - the perfect opportunity to wrap up up 2025 with back-to-back wins and consolidate their place in the top five.
Mason Mount injury update as Ruben Amorim offers explanation for half-time change
Ruben Amorim has revealed Mason Mount “felt something at half time” and explained that Manchester United decided not to risk him in the second half after the midfielder was withdrawn during the Premier League win over Newcastle.
Mason Mount injury update as Ruben Amorim offers explanation for half-time change
Eddie Howe defends Newcastle's lack of goalscoring threat
“Second half was a lot better than the first but we didn't do enough, we have to do more. It was not through a lack of effort, we were very dominant in that second period and I thought if we scored we would go on to win.
“We cut through them a lot of times, put in a lot of crosses and the chances were not there. If we had scored that equalising goal the momentum was with us but it was not to be.
“I thought Anthony [Gordon] played well, direct, full of running, yes the goal was not there. We need more goalmouth action and to be clinical in front of goal. They [Manchester United] managed the game well, but they were allowed to.”
Ruben Amorim explains Manchester United's formation switch
"In the first half, I think we showed that I felt that was the only way to create more danger, to have more opportunities was with the back four with a lot of guys inside. Even to keep the ball, because I remember the game last year we lost one against one outside. We just tried to imagine the game and to help the players to feel comfortable."
Ayden Heaven: 'We want to push for top four, possibly the league'
Manchester United defender Ayden Heaven, who was delighted to keep a clean sheet, explains where he feels his team should be targeting after going fifth in the Premier League.
He tells Sky Sports: "I think as Manchester United, we belong in Europe. We want to get back there next season so we can even push for top four, possibly win the league, anything's possible. We want to keep trying."
Eddie Howe: 'We didn't look as good physically'
Eddie Howe defended his team from suggestions that they struggled tactically with facing Manchester United today, with the Newcastle boss explaining that he felt there was a physcial drop-off from the 2-2 draw against Chelsea.
He told Sky Sports: “We didn't look as good physically as we did against Chelsea when we were excellent. There wasn't a tactical problem for us at any stage of the game, we're disappointed with how we defended the goal and long throws was something we prepared for and then disappointed with our actions.
“We cut through them a lot of times, put in a lot of crosses and the chances were not there. If we had scored that equalising goal the momentum was with us but it was not to be.”
Ruben Amorim on Man Utd's victory: 'We needed to suffer'
Ruben Amorim sounds like he was pretty delighted to play rubbish but win after so many games of playing well but drawing or losing. He’s what he said while speaking to Sky Sports:
“We need to suffer all together in the stadium. I think we did a good first half, and then the second half, we just defended. We had the opportunities in the second half with transitions, but it was a good win.
“But I had so many games here saying we played very well and didn't get the three points, today was the opposite. I think we suffered together and we managed to win the game.”
Ruben Amorim offers injury update on Mason Mount
Ruben Amorim has revealed Mason Mount “felt something at half time” and Manchester United decided not to risk him in the second half after the midfielder was withdrawn during the Premier League win over Newcastle.
Mount started alongside Matheus Cunha in behind Benjamin Sesko, with United already missing their injured captain Bruno Fernandes as well as Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was replaced at half-time by 18-year-old Jack Fletcher, the son of former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, as United ultimately saw out a 1-0 victory for their first home win at Old Trafford in two months.
Amorim explained that while Mount wanted to continue, he could not risk the former England international’s fitness ahead of facing Wolves on Tuesday 30 December.
Ruben Amorim baffles his players but new-look Man United hold on for gutsy win
The spot on Manchester United’s right wing has been filled by George Best, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. If many another has struggled to live up to their standards, they have had few more unlikely successors than Patrick Dorgu. And yet, if only for one night, he was a revelation as a right winger.
For United, there was something endearingly improbable about. A left-field choice in one respect, the right man in another, Dorgu played out of position, delivered a barnstorming display and capped it with a wonderful winner.
United, who have spent the last few weeks missing the chance to go fifth, took this opportunity with a weakened team. It was Newcastle United who were left to rue the result when a glance at the teamsheets suggested they could chalk up a sixth win in seven attempts against another United.
Ruben Amorim baffles his players but new-look Man United hold on for gutsy win
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