Man Utd 4-1 Newcastle: Martial, Greenwood & Rashford send Utd 4 pts behind top 4

Newcastle United held an early lead at OId Trafford but were soundly beaten in the end, going down 4-1 to Manchester United.

Match Report

Manchester United return to winning ways as Anthony Martial scored twice in a 4-1 triumph over a generous Newcastle United side at Old Trafford.

Having lost 2-0 to then-bottom Watford last time out, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side appeared to be suffering a Christmas hangover when they fell behind to Matty Longstaff's 17th-minute opener on Boxing Day.

Manchester United's defence had been given an early reprieve when Dwight Gayle carelessly blazed over when clean through, but Longstaff – scorer of the only goal in the reverse fixture back in early October – made them pay, collecting Joelinton's layoff before angling a low shot beyond David de Gea.

However, any thoughts Steve Bruce may have harboured of completing a league double over his former club had disappeared by half-time.

Premier League Standings

Match Events

1' Yellow Card! McTominay booked

McTominay picks up what must be one of the quickest bookings in history as he catches Sean Longstaff with his studs inside the opening 30 seconds.

17' GOAL! Man Utd 0-1 Newcastle (Longstaff)

Matty Longstaff dinks the ball over the top for Joelinton, but the striker has Maguire for company and plays it back to the midfielder just inside the area in a central position. He takes a touch and then drills a low effort through Maguire's legs and into the bottom-left corner!

Longstaff scores his second goal against Man Utd after their first meeting in the Premier League this season and all his two goals are against the rivals today.

24' GOAL! Man Utd 1-1 Newcastle (Martial)

Shaw advances down the left and cuts the ball into Pereira in the box. 

The midfielder sets the ball for Martial to strike with his first touch, and the ball squirms into the back of the net despite Dubravka getting a hand to it in the bottom-left corner! 

The goalkeeper will feel he should have done better there.

36' GOAL! Man Utd 2-1 Newcastle (Greenwood)

What a goal from the youngster! A sloppy pass from Schar under pressure goes straight to Greenwood on the right.

He drifts inside before unleashing a fearsome strike with his left that cannons in off the underside of the crossbar! It's 2-1 to Manchester United now!

41' GOAL! Man Utd 3-1 Newcastle (Rashford)

Wan-Bissaka beats Willems with a change of pace and stands a cross up at the back post where Rashford rises highest to thump a header into the corner! 

46' Pogba is subbed on

McTominay is withdrawn at half-time, possibly as a precaution after his early injury. Pogba comes on to take his place in midfield.

51' GOAL! Man Utd 4-1 Newcastle (Martial)

A woeful back-pass from Sean Longstaff under pressure turns into a perfect throughball for Martial, who races clean through on goal before dinking the ball over the diving Dubravka.

61' OFF THE POST! Martial almost makes hat-trick

Martial comes within inches of completing his hat-trick, thumping a low, left-footed effort off the base of the post from outside the box!

79' What a hit by Maguire!

Maguire ambles forward from the back, cuts onto his right and curls an effort towards the top-left corner that Dubravka does well to palm aside! 

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