Newcastle United had the better chances as their excellent start to the season continued with a goalless draw at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s top-four hopes suffered another setback as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are now three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea after an uninspiring performance in which they rarely looked like beating Newcastle before a surge in the closing minutes.
Eddie Howe’s visitors had better chances earlier, with Joelinton twice frustrated by the frame of the goal and still suffering just one defeat this season after surviving a late scare.
Newcastle remain a point behind the Red Devils in sixth, with Sunday showing the latest sign that they will be persistent challengers to the ‘big six’ for years to come.
The Magpies were on the rise from the early stages, with United’s best able to put Jadon Sancho’s speculative effort over the bar in the opening exchanges.
Newcastle would have taken the lead in the 24th minute had it not been for the woodwork denying Joelinton twice in quick succession after Kieran Tripper’s blocked free-kick had gone into his box. His first header was deflected off the post and his second off the post.
United created a clear opening seven minutes before half-time, but Antony’s near-post effort was easily kept out by Nick Pope.
Erik ten Haga’s team was more dangerous after the break. Cristiano Ronaldo had the ball in the net but was correctly flagged for offside and both he and Sancho had penalty appeals.
There were only a few moments of worry for Newcastle after that, until Marcus Rashford pounced on the offside trap, rounded the advancing Pope and equalized only for Fred to curl an incredible effort into an open goal.
Rashford could have equalized himself in the last minute after injury time, but his close-range header was the wrong side of Pope’s right-hand post.
Leave a comment