Woeful United slump to three goal defeat at Newcastle

United slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on Wednesday evening, losing ground to bitter rivals Manchester City in the title race. Demba Ba’s superb first-half strike put the hosts on their way, before Yohan Cabaye’s free-kick and a disastrous own goal from Phil Jones rapped up a comfortable, deserved win for the Barcodes.

The Magpies took advantage of a lacklustre United display to claim all three points and deal a major blow to United’s title hopes.

Ba broke the deadlock with a fine goal after 15 minutes. The on-form striker produced a magnificent finish after Shola Ameobi flicked on a long punt forward from goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Newcastle felt they should have had a penalty later in the half when Ba tackled with an out-of-sorts Rio Ferdinand, but referee Howard Webb turned down the appeal.

The home side doubled the lead shortly after the interval, when Cabaye’s awesome free-kick bamboozled United stopper Anders Lindegaard.

As United’s search for a way back into the game grew increasingly desperate, Jones made a total mess of Krul’s injury-time punt forward was turned into his own net.

The result saw United suffer their first defeat on the date January 4th since 1936! It was also the first time the Reds have lost their first league game of a calendar year since 1996!

United will be eager to return to winning ways on the weekend as they take on rivals City in a mouth-watering FA Cup third round tie at Eastlands.

Full Time – Newcastle United 3-0 Manchester United
Attendance – 52,299