Newcastle vs Manchester United preview: How poor have Louis van Gaal and Steve McClaren's sides been this season?

The two sides meet at St. James' Park this evening

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (Getty Images)

It’s not often that you see a team’s home support resort to ironically cheering the efforts of their players but that is what it has come to at Old Trafford.

The shouts and applause that met Wayne Rooney’s stoppage time penalty, which saw Manchester United through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, were sincere, if only because most of the supporters couldn’t face a replay, and another 90 minutes or more of Louis van Gaal’s football.

Tonight, the Dutchman’s side travel to St. James’ Park, where they will face a Newcastle United side who having a difficult time of their own.

Unlike those halcyon games of yore (think Philippe Albert’s chip, Roy Keane almost slapping Alan Shearer or that 6-2 demolition), tonight promises to be positively dreadful, if the two team’s recent performances and statistics are to be believed.

Just how poor have both these teams been? Here are the vital statistics…

How ‘boring’ are Manchester United?

• Louis van Gaal’s side have failed to score on nine occasions so far this term.
• They haven’t scored in the first half at home since September 30, 10 games ago.
• The half-time scorelines in those games have read: 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0
• United have not scored more than twice in a match in any competition since a 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park in mid-October, 18 games ago.
• On average, they have 57 per cent of possession in any single game – more than any other side in the division. Possession, that is, without intent to supply. United play just one through ball per match, compared to an average of 489 short passes to feet.
• Van Gaal’s men also take, on average, 11.6 shots per game, which is the eighth-lowest in the league.
• The seven other sides who shoot less are Swansea City, Norwich City, Sunderland, Stoke City, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and tonight’s opponents Newcastle United. All of them, bar Stoke, are in the bottom half of the table.

How poor is Newcastle United’s recent form?

• Steve McClaren’s side have lost their last four games, failing to score in each defeat, and losing all of those games 1-0.
• Their last point came at home in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, the Premier League’s bottom side.
• Newcastle have, on average, taken less shots than any other Premier League side.
• They average 9.3 a game, with only 3.2 hitting the target – again, the lowest of any side.

0-0, anyone?