De Gea is not happy ...
That’s it on a day that may soon be recalled as one of the nails in Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Manchester United regime, but really should be about the excellent Longstaff brothers, and Matty the match-winner.
Steve Bruce speaks, and he is not getting too carried away, even though he is clearly savouring the moment.
I was delighted inside. I have waited 20 years to have a result against Man U. I am delighted after last week. What you need is a response. It just shows what football management is about. It’s up and down. You can never write the script. You need your team and your staff to rally round. When you get beat everybody comes under the pump. For a young kid to come in and smash one in is something else. Since China, I have said ‘who is this kid?’ He plays with enthusiasm, he lights up our day.
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David de Gea speaks and he looks dumbfounded.
Everything, a lot of things to improve. I don’t know what to say. Keep fighting, keep fighting, it’s a difficult moment for us. Probably, it’s the most difficult time since I have been here. I don’t know what is happening. We cannot score a goal in two games. We have to say sorry to the fans. Not just this game, this whole season but let’s keep fighting and keep working.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s post-match interview was a little wide-eyed and included plenty of rambling. Some edited highlights.
We lacked a few key players but that is no excuse. At the moment, we are in a position we are not used to. It’s symptomatic of where we are at. We work hard and we don’t create. Luckily, it’s the international break. We have time to analyse. Hopefully, we will get some some players back. It’s my responsibility and I need to sort their heads out. They are human beings, young footballers who all work hard. We want to see those results. Rashford is working hard. He is running, running, running and not getting the service. The first half was the worst we have played. The second we dominated, and we don’t get the win. We have six out from the starting XI against Chelsea...we have come together and decided the direction, if you work on sunny days you will never get to where you are going.
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Here’s Louise Taylor’s match report.
“Solskjaer, Pochetino, whoever - it makes no difference who’s in charge of Utd while their wage structure rewards mediocrity to such an outrageous degree,” says Sean King.
“David Moyes is available,” says Nick Smith.
The brothers Longstaff speak and they cannot stop smiling.
Matty Longstaff: Bit in awe, to be honest. I am over the moon and bit speechless.
Sean Longstaff: I am over the moon for him. He’s been unlucky not to be in the team to be honest. He’s been the best player in training since pre-season. I couldn’t be happier.
ML: I found out yesterday. He read out my name and the butterflies began to go off.
SL: He makes my life easier. He was a lot quieter than normal. He deserves all the credit he’s going to get.
ML: It was hit and hope to be honest. I can’t really describe it, I just ran to the fans. To get that in front of the Gallowgate End makes it more special.
SL: It’s been a tough week in training. That’s us grafting, that’s how we are going to be successful.
Updated
Here come the stats.
19 - With what was their first shot on target of the match, Mathew Longstaff has become the youngest player to score on their Premier League debut for Newcastle United (19y 199d). Arrival. #NEWMNU pic.twitter.com/dwreSAGy7n
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 6, 2019
2 – Matty Longstaff (19y 199d) has become the second youngest player to score a @premierleague winning goal against Manchester United, older than only Jermain Defoe (19y 62d) who did so for West Ham back in December 2001. Dreamland. #NEWMNU pic.twitter.com/yOdCfdkmVM
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 6, 2019
1 - Steve Bruce has registered his first managerial win over Manchester United, with this his 23rd game against them in all competitions. Overdue. #NEWMNU pic.twitter.com/h8TA2G38pB
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 6, 2019
9 - Manchester United have picked up just nine points from their opening eight Premier League matches this season (W2 D3 L3), their worst start to a league season since 1989-90 (8 points) when they went on to finish 13th. Worrying. pic.twitter.com/oV2kDjRkri
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 6, 2019
Howay the lad.
72' - GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL!!! MATTY LONGSTAFF HAS SCORED!!! 1-0! #NUFC pic.twitter.com/5qs3EcWS17
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 6, 2019
Steve Bruce actually took a while to break into a smile there but did so in the end. The drought is over against his old club. It looks like he is getting the better advice from Sir Alex Ferguson. Newcastle are 16th, and Manchester United are 12th, just a point above their conquerors. Crisis? Oh yes, this is a crisis. Those who want Solskjær given time are probably going against the tide at this point. And there has to be the thought that he might not want to stick around himself.
Full-time: Newcastle 1-0 Manchester United.
That’s it, Newcastle have done it. What a day for Steve Bruce, what a day for Matty Longstaff, who was superb even before his goal. Manchester United were dreadful, again, and the Ole Gunnar Solskjær romance is all but dead. Will he be in charge by the time United play Liverpool on October 20th?
Updated
90+4 min: A Krafth handball gifts a set-piece chance to United. Pereira takes after a tussle in the box. De Gea goes up for it. And Pereira hooks it high and into Dubravka’s arms.
90+2 min: Fred loops up a long ball but Rashford is no Andy Carroll. Yedlin excitedly runs down the other end, and loses the ball. But do Manchester United have what it takes to hurt them?
Updated
90+1 min: Where are the wave upon waves of Manchester United attacks in this circumstance? Way back in the past by the looks of this game and many others over the last six years.
90 min: Final Newcastle sub. Almiron slopes off and on comes Emile Krafth. There will be four minutes to be added on.
89 min: Matty Longstaff and Scott McTominay get involved and the debutant looks pure radge as he confront someone six inches taller.
88 min: Marcus Rashford’s body language is meanwhile desolate. He has not been lucky enough to play in a good United team and he is not receiving much service as a young player but he looks like someone shrinking under the responsibility.
87 min: Ole gesticulating wildly on the touchline and his reactions suggest he is not happy with the responses he is receiving.
86 min: Final Manchester United sub. On comes Tahith Chong for Ashley Young. Who takes United’s free-kicks now?
84 min: Newcastle sat back, with even Andy Carroll sat deep. This has turned into a game of attack versus defence. Or to put it properly, a slightly shaky defence against a blunt instrument of an attack. Greenwood’s header is saved easily by Dubravka.
83 min: Newcastle sub: Saint-Maximin for Atsu, who will be expected to replicate his predecessor’s hard running.
82 min: Free-kick to United in dangerous position, though, on the edge of the box. Pereira hits the wall and then poor Fred makes a mess of his attempt to get a shot in.
80 min: Fred is jeered as he launches a shot that lands somewhere in the Jesmond area of Tyneside. United have been aimless and hopeless, even more so after the goal went in.
79 min: Rashford, who looks anything less than his free-spirited best, plays a terrible ball into the area. Remember that aimless hoof by Victor Lindelof the other night? Think that, but not by someone attempting to clear his lines. Oh dear.
78 min: Marcos Rojo, as is customary, has been booked for a piece of foul play.
77 min: Newcastle confident now. Sean Longstaff shoots from distance but is not quite as deadly as his brother. David de Gea saves with ease.
75 min: Oh Ole, what can you find now? Maguire, somewhat culpable in the goal, drives the ball forward. Ashley Young attempts a cross from the flank, but Mason Greenwood cannot get on the end of of it.
73 min: The brothers Longstaff had been struggling in midfield for a few minutes but the younger brother stepped up there. Remember, he hit the bar earlier. United wanted brother Sean in the summer; do they want both now? Mike Ashley will be only too happy to name his price.
72 min: Saint-Maximin ran deep into United territory, and then Willems makes space with some neat skill and a pass that tees up Longstaff minor to drill home.
Goal! Newcastle 1-0 Manchester United (Matty Longstaff, 72)
What a story, what a goal....
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71 min: Rashford had the goal begging from a fine piece of James play but Schar manages to get the ball away. Just. United win another corner to follow that. Young hits Maguire again but the header is askew.
69 min: Greenwood almost plays Young in, but the choice of cross rather than shot allows Newcastle to clear. Saint-Maximin’s run to the other end of the field causes mild panic before it’s overrun. Space opening up now for both teams.
68 min: Newcastle still back in numbers when United attack. Fred in particular seems bamboozled by having so many defenders in front of him. However, the home team are edging back, and inviting pressure.
66 min: Almiron booked for diving over a tackle by Rojo. Did he learn that in The MLS? Meanwhile, a Manchester United change sees Mason Greenwood come on for Juan Mata.
65 min: Carroll nods over. Yedlin’s cross finds the centre of the box and Tuanzebe read the run well and put the big man off.
Updated
63 min: The game has opened up a little since that Carroll arrival. It’s a move that suggests that Bruce fancies sneaking a win and opens the route to a United goal, too. Not that their forwards look capable of doing much, save perhaps for Daniel James.
61 min: That means Tuanzebe is playing full-back, which is not much of a franking of Ole’s belief in the youngster. Having said that, Dalot is reported as injured. Another muscle injury. All that sweat in the Far East and Asia doesn’t seem to have done much for United’s sick bay.
60 min: On comes Marcos Rojo for Diogo Dalot, which doesn’t look like an injury-enforced change. Tactical to deal with Carroll? It looks like it as Rojo is immediately on the local hero’s shoulder.
58 min: United chance! Pereira whips in a ball from the left and Daniel James cannot get there as Willems just manages to put him off.
57 min: The first missile is launched by Willems at Carroll as Maguire manages to get the ball clear. Every time the ball comes close to Carroll, the Toon Army’s volume increases.
56 min: Here comes Plan B, here comes Andy Carroll, on as a sub for Joelinton. Here is a test for Maguire and especially Tuanzebe.
55 min: Young takes, as dead-ball ‘expert’ and the target is again Maguire. Newcastle get it away, somewhat chaotically and then Daniel James’ shot is blocked.
53 min: Rashford’s defection to the left means Manchester United have nobody in the centre when the likes of James, Dalot and Young get the ball. James and Dalot, though, force a corner.
51 min: Marcus Rashford looking a little tentative in his movement. He has begun the half in an inside left position, so as to get on his right foot. Jose Mourinho has been at pains to point out he has only one foot.
49 min: Ashley Young is down, having taken a second bang to the head of this game. Mike Dean decides on a drop ball as Pereira disputes that decision. Newcastle play on, having decided not to be sportsmanlike. Oh well, game’s gone.
47 min: A booking for Schar for what was a deliberate handball after a Rashford run. Almiron, who was also pulling the Longsight flier’s shirt, is soon given a chance to make his own run but shoots wide. It is beginning to look like he left his radar in The MLS.
46 min: The second half is underway and Mata is clearly being pushed up close to Marcus Rashford, who was a bystander to the first half.
The Blaydon Races ring out and the teams take to the field once more. Gary Naylor again: “Is it wrong to think of Juan Mata as a loyal gundog who can no longer deliver the prey to the rifle (or whatever it is they do) and now needs a happy retirement gambolling after butterflies in a lush meadow? He’s only 31, but seems nearer 40 somehow.”
Gavin Reddin writes: “I know Ole has little to work with at the moment, but surely the 11 he’s put out are better than the 11 Newcastle have put out and yet they’ve been dire. Do you think a top-class manager, a Conte, say, would get a better song out of this group?”
You would have to say so. Poor Ole’s suffered in terms of tactics and it seems these days that motivation is a problem.
And Robert Darby has some harsh words: “Is this too early in the season to call this a relegation 6 pointer, or am I doing a disservice to ... Newcastle?”
A quick glance at the first-half highlights pinpoints how well the Longstaff brothers have played today. Manchester United’s midfield, save for perhaps McTominay, has been peripheral.
There was some actually quite exciting Premier League football today...
Gary Naylor asks: “It’s a long time since I read any Asterix but weren’t Longstaff, Longstaff and Saint-Maximin all friends of Obelix?”
Getafix, oh druid etc etc.
“Why on earth don’t the Longstaff brothers have the first letter of their first name on the back of their shirts along with their surname?” asks JR in Illinois. “I guess ultimately it doesn’t matter that much as one can’t read the lettering or even see the number against the black and white stripe background on the back of the Newcastle shirt. A point of interest, when Gerard Deulofeu was on Everton he had “G. Deulofeu” on the back of his shirt and I always wondered why as there were no other Deulofeus around.”
Half-time Newcastle 0-0 Manchester United
They exchanged decent chances at the end of the half, with Maguire going closest, but this has been an even contest in which Newcastle had been the team who looked like they were getting what they wanted out of the game. Steve Bruce still has a chance of getting a first ever win over his old club. And, frankly, he might not get many better chances than this Manchester United team.
45 min: Two minutes of time added on in this half.
Updated
44 min: A scare for Newcastle. Two of them, in fact. Dalot’s ball is hurriedly cleared behind Schar. Young’s corner is excellent and Harry Maguire’s slab head was on the end of it. Somehow, he missed.
43 min: Nice skill by James beats Willems but he finds himself with little support.
42 min: Better from Fred, as he stops Willems being able to cut inside and launch a shot in the fashion he did against Liverpool a few weeks ago.
41 min: Manchester United’s attempts to carve a shooting chance have been woeful, which is testament to the excellence of Newcastle’s defending, but Maguire steps up and plays in Pereira, who releases what must be the first shot of the game from United. Dubravka, though, had no trouble dealing with it.
Updated
39 min: Manchester United attempt to work a passing move, and it results in a pass from Fred that was to nobody. Daniel James and Marcus Rashford had not read his mind...and up the other end, Almiron almost escaped, but Harry Maguire came across to stop a player who is not exactly brimming with confidence in front of goal. Danger averted.
37 min: Poor pass from Tuanzebe finds Longstaff Major, whose ball to Joelinton allows Tuanzebe chance to redeem himself with some calm, collected defending.
35 min: Saint-Maximin continues to cause trouble. He wins a corner that results in not much more than a collision between Young and Schar, with both requiring treatment that seems to be enough to revive them.
33 min: Long ball looped up to Juan Mata, and he cannot get to the ball. He is not a man to launch it to. Fred receives an admonishment for choosing that option.
32 min: Newcastle are the better team here, make no mistake. And they aren’t having to play brilliantly to be so.
30 min: Yellow card for McTominay, as he catches Longstaff Major with a trailing boot that was a little high. That was an orange card, if we are truthful. It is VAR-ed, and McTominay escapes having the first squeeze of Pantene.
29 min: Oof, close, as Schar runs on to a corner and flicks it over the bar. Newcastle have had by far the better chances. And their gameplan is working much better, too.
28 min: Matty Longstaff hits the bar! Saint-Maximim plays in a short pass and he lashes a shot that had De Gea beaten. That was almost a dream debut.
Updated
27 min: Corner to MUFC, taken again by Young and it drifts into the air and into Dubravka’s hands. It was meat and drink to the Newcastle keeper.
25 min: Maguire steps across to stop Joelinton in his tracks and pulls up afterwards. Let’s see how he is after that. Ashley Young, at the other end, forces a decent defensive header from Ciaran Clark.
24 min: Ole Gunnar Solskjær looks pensive, and is attempting to direct traffic.
23 min: Another free-kick for a foul on James. Young takes again and it is headed clear. United’s set piece record is atrocious, the worst in the Premier League, without a goal from one in over 200 days.
22 min: Harry Maguire is seeing an awful lot of the ball, operating as a Koeman-esque playmaker but with worse teammates. His pass to James sees the winger turn Schar and win a free-kick. Young takes it from a deep position by the touchline. It goes straight to Dubravka.
Newcastle’s Brazilian striker Joelinton vies with Harry Maguire. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images
Updated
20 min: Rashford gets chance for a sprint but across comes Lascelles to stop that. United then take an age over a throw-in. Back in those 1990s glory days, they used to speed such moments up. Rarely did they ever not take a free-kick short and keep going but this is a very different team, and one with no obvious confidence in itself.
18 min: Newcastle attack breaks down but United fail to break at any speed. Too much traffic to get through.
17 min: A United passing move comes to naught, as Juan Mata strays offside. McTominay was the player driving it on as he appears to be do much of the time these days. He is flourishing, but what is he rising above? Not much, it has to be said.
15 min: Instead, Yedlin gets a yellow card for a flying challenge on McTominay. No complaints there, not even from the American.
14 min: Daniel James brings down Yedlin after the full-back is released by Longstaff Minor. The home fans call for a yellow but don’t get it.
13 min: Midfield is a morass of bodies. And that’s the way Brucey wants it.
11 min: Maguire steps forward, Fred spreads play to Dalot but Willems clears the danger. Newcastle have men back in numbers. A long launched ball to Joelinton almost results in a flick to Saint-Maximin, but the ball gets back to De Gea. That would appear to be the pattern of play. Saint-Maximin looks liveliest and has a shot from long range that goes wide.
9 min: Newcastle’s fast start has slowed up and they are prepared to sit back. Steve Bruce’s aim appears to be denying Marcus Rashford and Daniel James space. When David de Gea booms a goal kick long and out of play, it is a reflection of a tepid start.
7 min: The away fans are singing of Ole Gunnar Solskjær and 1999. They obviously don’t want to forget the 1990s even if he is now trying to. Matty Longstaff, by the way, has started the game brightly, and is very similar to his brother if perhaps a little more ruddy of complexion.
5 min: Newcastle’s 5-4-1 has flooded the midfield and allowed the visitors space to play the ball around. This season, they have not been much of a team for flowing passing moves that pull their opponents apart.
Updated
3 min: More danger for MUFC, as Fred fouls Almiron, and gets a very quick booking. The resultant free-kick is cleared readily enough but the home team and very much on the front foot.
1 min: The weather has been rotten, by the way, and Manchester United are already under pressure, with Saint-Maximin forging deep into their defence before Ashley Young clears the ball.
Away we go...
Steve Bruce and Ole Gunnar Solskjær exchange a warm embrace, having met at their old boss’s golf days.
“Having brothers together in centre mid is going to get confusing,” says Felix Wood. “I don’t agree with using first names for footballers, so we may have to go with Longstaff and Shortstaff.”
The sequence of The Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop, Carmina Burana and then the theme from Local Hero means that it’s game time at St James’. Broken up by that Premier League dirge anthem but briefly. Is there a song that finishes as suddenly as Knopfler’s Local Hero, aside maybe from Dennis Waterman’s theme from On The Up?
The last brothers to play for Newcastle together were, of course, and actually quite recently, Shola and Sammy Ameobi in September 2014. The Toon Army were left to lament a 3-0 loss to Sunderland that day,
Steve Bruce speaks.
You had to change something. We have people who haven’t had chance so far, people like Ciaran Clark who trains like every day is his last. [On the Longstaff brothers] There is a wonderful connection there. It’s not often you get brothers playing for the same team. [On Matthew Longstaff] He’s caught my eye with the energy and the way he plays. They have both risen very quickly. Sean did very very well last season. I understand that you don’t get a lot of time but we are seven games in. But we have played four of the top six or seven. You always need a bit of time. Some of the performances have been decent, and we need a big one today.
Tuanzebe will play centre-back, his favoured position, with Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot as full-backs. A chance to see how he matches up alongside Harry Maguire.
Ole Gunnar speaks.
[On Lindelöf and Lingard] Yes, and both got injuries on Thursday night. It’s part and parcel of the game. Axel [Tuanzebe] is coming in and Diogo [Dalot] is coming in. The plastic pitch locked his [Lindelof’s] back. He travelled with us and he will need a week off. Today is important, as we haven’t had the results we have wanted to. We have to make sure we play with enthusiasm, play as a team. The injuries mean we cannot work on set patterns. My focus is on solutions for this game. The players will come back when they come back. Yes [I Have confidence in Tuanzebe]. He’s been brilliant since pre-season so I am absolutely not worried.
Stat attack time.
13 - Manchester United have won 13 away Premier League games at Newcastle – they’ve only won more away at Aston Villa (15) and Everton (16). Kick-start? #NEWMUN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 6, 2019
19y 199d - Aged 19 years and 199 days, Matthew Longstaff is the first teenager to start a Premier League match for Newcastle United since Adam Armstrong on Boxing Day 2014, also against Manchester United. Magpie. #MEWMUN pic.twitter.com/vkakVpHqHT
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 6, 2019
It’s just possible that this will not be seen as the biggest result of the day.
And Ole laments that we’re not in the 1990s any more, worse luck.
Fergie remains a favoured hotline.
Steve Bruce has made the promised changes and gives Matthew Longstaff his debut alongside big brother Sean. Emil Krafth, Paul Dummett, Issac Hayden, Yoshinori Muto and Christian Atsu have been dropped. Longstaff the younger, Ciaran Clark, Allan Saint-Maximim, Jetro Willems and DeAndre Yedlin are given a go.
It all looks a bit League Cup, to be quite honest. For both teams.
Even allowing for Newcastle’s problems this season, that is not a very strong Manchester United team. Far from it, in fact. Two defenders playing out of position, no Paul Pogba, the enigmatic Fred in midfield and an attack that is youthful yet not exactly dynamic.
Here are the teams
TEAM NEWS
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 6, 2019
Here's how Newcastle United will line up for this afternoon's @premierleague visit of @ManUtd. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/60c8pjHB96
Newcastle: Dubravka, Clark, Schar, Lascelles, Willems, Yedlin, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Joelinton.
Subs: Darlow, Dummett, Carroll, Shelvey, Gayle, Krafth, Atsu.
📣 Team news 📣
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 6, 2019
Here's how #MUFC line up on Tyneside for #NEWMUN...
Manchester United: De Gea, Young, Maguire, Dalot, Tuanzebe, Fred, McTominay, Pereira, Mata, James, Rashford.
Subs: Romero, Rojo, Greenwood, Gomes, Matic, Chong, Williams.
Updated
Preamble
The fans loathe the owner and are not sure of the manager, even though he professes to be one of them, a long-standing lover of their club. The football is turgid, and goals are hard to find. Yes, take your pick of which of Newcastle United and Manchester United that refers to. The cap fits both of them. The days when this was one of the grandest fixtures in the Premier League have receded as far as Alan Shearer’s hairline. Steve Bruce was club captain of Manchester United when this pairing met in March 1996 and Ole Gunnar Solskjær was just a glint in the eye of Alex Ferguson’s scouting department. Today’s managers were never Old Trafford colleagues, with Bruce shipped out in the 1996 summer the ‘little Norwegian’, as he became known, arrived in Manchester. They are, though, both favourite sons of Fergie and both have admitted to seeking advice from the grand old man.
Their teams have much to improve on. Newcastle’s 5-0 pummelling at Leicester was relegation writ large. For Manchester United, Monday’s draw with Arsenal was perhaps the lowest-amped match ever between another pair of fallen giants while that 0-0 draw with AZ Alkmaar was the football equivalent of being locked in a room with only a long read on protein shakes for company.
And so a classic cannot be expected but then again, this is the best league in the world.
Kick-off: 4.30pm BST
