On paper, a Newcastle side second from bottom in the league and with a recent record of conceding three goals a game ought to have been there for the taking but, with James Wilson still absent through illness, United lacked the firepower and the threat up front to take advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses. In the end, it was Newcastle who took the points through a solitary goal and their first clean sheet of the season.
Premier Under 21 League
Newcastle 1 Manchester United 0
With the rain lashing down for long periods, the first half offered a competitive midfield battle but little else. United had the best of the possession, but failed to create a clear cut chance other than a glancing header from McNair that Woolston pawed away. Other than that, only a shot from the right foot of Reece James, whose well-hit shot stung the keeper’s hands, threatened to break the deadlock.
Newcastle had threatened even less in the second period, but they took the lead before the second half was four minutes old, Streete finishing off an incisive passing move to put the home side a goal up. It almost got worse a few minutes later when Aarons’ shot was saved by Amos and Roberts went close with a shot that went just wide of the United keeper’s right post.
Newcastle were coping far better with the conditions in the second half, though United came back in the last twenty minutes and almost levelled the scores when a superb free kick from Pereira was palmed onto the bar by the Newcastle keeper. With time running out, United produced their most concerted pressure of the game. Rothwell put a free kick over the bar and Rudge put his shot over in stoppage time, but it was too little too late. Newcastle came away with an unlikely win and United received a huge setback in their efforts to reach the knockout stages.
