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An answer was needed after a strong home loss to Tottenham before the international break and the Red Devils delivered it at Tyneside.
When Emil Krafth’s cross swerved off Luke Shaw and passed David de Gea in the second minute at St James’ Park, Manchester United fans who had paid the controversial £ 14.95 fee to watch the game on PPV could have been sorry for turning off the television. and asking for a refund.
Because of the way the team had started this season, with just one win in their first three league games, even the most optimistic fan would have feared the worst, as Steve Bruce’s team opened United with ease in their first. tried.
But where United capitulated against José Mourinho’s Tottenham just under two weeks ago, they recovered with an arrogance and dominance that will give them confidence heading into a crucial few weeks.
The early setback simply propelled United forward with Daniel James, playing his preferred role down the left, bonding well with Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes to terrorize Newcastle’s bottom line.
It was a United team with five changes from the Spurs loss but they controlled the game with ease, finding channel space and using their pace to cause trouble.
All four of United’s attackers got saves from Karl Darlow, who managed to keep the hosts in the tie for much longer than they deserved. But it was Harry Maguire who appeared with the United tie.
Their shouting celebration in the empty stands of St James’ Park provided a much-needed cathartic release after another stressful week for the England defender. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer never had any doubt that his captain would recover and showed his mental strength with a confident display.
While many criticized Solskjaer’s team selection before kick-off, his adjustments at the front line in particular paid off. James, who has been widely maligned for his poor form, caused constant trouble down the left, while Mata appears revitalized after his two man-of-the-match displays at the Carabao Cup.
His linking game with Fernandes seemed to have given United the upper hand only for the Portuguese’s exquisite finish to be ruled out by VAR for offside.
Despite United’s offensive prowess, there were times when it seemed they could live to mourn their missed opportunities. David de Gea made two very good saves in the second half to deny Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson after United’s weak defense was again exposed.
United will travel to Paris Saint-Germain for their first Champions League group stage game on Tuesday and Kylian Mbappé and Neymar will relax at the prospect of facing such a flimsy rearguard.
Victor Lindelof easily became his own field in preparation for the hosts’ opening match and there should be alarm at the ease with which Saint-Maximin was able to pass four of Solskjaer’s players.
While the defense might have looked like a decent counterattack from a potential disaster, the attack was thriving. United finished with 28 shots and 14 on target, not a bad total for a front line that missed two of its three favorite starters with Anthony Martial suspended and Mason Greenwood absent.
Fernandes missed from the penalty spot, just the third missed penalty of his career, meant it took United until the 86th minute to complete all three points. Donny van de Beek, who had come off the bench 10 minutes earlier, was instrumental in the preparation, strengthening his case to start in Paris, and it was a sublime and powerful finish from Fernandes to put United ahead.
Late goals from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford brightened up a resounding victory, but more important was the reaction. United have already looked down and out this season, but this time they showed they have it inside to bounce back.
With PSG, Chelsea, RB Leipzig and Arsenal arriving, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
