Newcastle v Manchester United Review
Pre Match Analysis-It was relegation battlers Newcastle against second placed Manchester United in this one. Manchester United chose to play a three-four-three formation in this one, while Newcastle chose to play a four-four-two formation. Manchester United was without Rashford and Mata in their starting line up. This game is proof of why leagues with relegation are more exciting and competitive than leagues without relegation. Every game means something.First Half Analysis– David de Gea made a good save early on in this one, Shelvey had a cracking shot at goal. Lukaku butchered a good chance for Manchester United, as he failed to control the ball adequately. Sanchez passed the ball to Lingard, he had a good shot a goal that was well saved by Newcastle goal keeper Dubravka. Following that Dubravka made a brilliant one on one save with Martial missing a golden opportunity.
Half Time Analysis– Manchester United should have been ahead at Half Time, but they failed to convert their chances into goals. The longer the game went on the more likely that Newcastle get something out of the game. Newcastle needed to pick up points in this one as they are hovering around the relegation zone.
Second Half Analysis– Sanchez managed to miss a goal early in the Second Half. Sanchez missed a good chance with Dubravka stranded, but he didn’t take the opportunity that he had to put Manchester United in the lead, Lejeune of Newcastle stopped the ball from going into the back of the net. Manchester United got punished for not converting their chances, when Ritchie put the ball in the back of the net in the sixty-fifth minute. Despite showing good endeavour, Manchester United couldn’t score an equalizer.
Full Time Analysis– Possession stats were well in favour of Manchester United. They also had six shots on target to three. It was a game that Manchester United would have pencilled in three points. It is three points lost for Manchester United, but remarkably they still cling onto second place on the Premier League ladder.