Marcus Rashford sent an injury-time header wide as Manchester United were held by Newcastle United and slipped three points off a top-four place.
With virtually the last touch of a disappointing game, Casemiro floated a cross to the far post. Substitute Rashford climbed highest but his effort went wide of the far post.
A goal at that point would have been harsh on Newcastle, who came close to securing only their second victory at Old Trafford since 1972 but after Joelinton’s first-half header had hit the bar, the Brazilian failed to head the rebound into an empty net.
The hosts’ frustrations were summed up by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese striker, who had two second-half efforts disallowed, shook his head in irritation when he was replaced by Rashford 18 minutes from time.
He carried on chuntering to himself and shaking his head until he reached the dug-out, when he slumped down in simmering discontent.
United miss Eriksen
Sir Alex Ferguson presented David de Gea and Ronaldo with personal awards before kick-off. Before that, he greeted Erik ten Hag warmly.
The Scot did not experience defeat in this particular fixture throughout his 27-year reign as Manchester United manager.
Including Ralf Rangnick, Ten Hag is the sixth man since Ferguson to be given the task of restoring the Old Trafford outfit to something like its former self.
The early weeks have been a switchback, brilliant against Liverpool and Arsenal, terrible against Brentford and Manchester City. There has been one constant, Christian Eriksen has proved to be an outstanding signing.
Sadly for Ten Hag, the Dane missed his first Premier League game of the season through illness and without him, Manchester United lacked creativity.
It was deep into the opening period before Antony forced Nick Pope into his first meaningful save and that came at the end of a Jadon Sancho-led counter-attack.
The home side did get the ball in the net twice in as many minutes after half-time but in both instances, Ronaldo’s effort was ruled out.
The first was clearly offside. The second was more debatable.
Ronaldo and his team-mates argued Fabian Schar had rolled a free-kick back to Pope and therefore the ball was in play. Pope did not move as Ronaldo closed in, suggesting he thought the kick was still to be taken.
Referee Craig Pawson sided with the England keeper, so Ronaldo nipping in to get the ball and tap into an empty net only brought him a yellow card.
Evidently Ten Hag was not impressed with Pawson’s performances judging by the way the Dutchman marched towards the official at the final whistle.
Impressive Newcastle
It was another good result for Newcastle, who have now drawn with both Manchester clubs and have still only lost once this season.
Joelinton should have put them in front. De Gea was on the floor having tried to save the Brazilian’s initial header from Kieran Trippier’s cross, so all the Brazilian had to do was get his effort on target.
Sadly for the visitors, he did not manage it, just as Miguel Almiron rushed his second-half shot from a pre-planned corner routine and blazed it into the Stretford End when he had time to do much better.
Nevertheless, on a ground where they hardly win and have not even secured a point since 2015, this was one of Newcastle’s better efforts.
Trippier in particular looked good, which is positive for Gareth Southgate given his recent bad news on the injury front for so many of his right-backs.
Certainly if anyone is going to gate-crash the established top six this season, Newcastle look like being the ones to do it.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Manchester United
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating
5.69
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Squad number20Player nameDiogo DalotAverage rating
5.47
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Squad number19Player nameVaraneAverage rating
5.79
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Squad number6Player nameMartínezAverage rating
5.83
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Squad number23Player nameShawAverage rating
5.55
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Squad number18Player nameCasemiroAverage rating
5.81
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Squad number17Player nameFredAverage rating
5.28
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Squad number21Player nameAntonyAverage rating
5.97
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Squad number8Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating
5.33
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Squad number25Player nameSanchoAverage rating
5.68
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Squad number7Player nameCristiano RonaldoAverage rating
6.13
Substitutes
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Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating
5.25
Newcastle United
Starting XI
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Squad number22Player namePope
Average rating6.68
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Squad number2Player nameTrippier
Average rating6.99
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Squad number5Player nameSchär
Average rating6.54
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Squad number4Player nameBotman
Average rating6.51
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Squad number33Player nameBurn
Average rating6.37
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Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Average rating6.26
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Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Average rating6.75
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Squad number7Player nameJoelinton
Average rating6.63
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Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Average rating6.66
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Squad number9Player nameWilson
Average rating6.56
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Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Average rating6.24
Substitutes
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Squad number6Player nameLascelles
Average rating6.21
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Squad number13Player nameTargett
Average rating6.43
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Squad number20Player nameWood
Average rating6.15
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Squad number21Player nameFraser
Average rating5.93
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Squad number28Player nameWillock
Average rating6.38
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 20Dalot
- 19Varane
- 6Martínez
- 23Shaw
- 18CasemiroBooked at 69mins
- 17Fred
- 21dos Santos
- 8Bruno FernandesBooked at 65mins
- 25Sancho
- 7Cristiano RonaldoBooked at 49minsSubstituted forRashfordat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Lindelöf
- 10Rashford
- 12Malacia
- 22Heaton
- 28Pellistri
- 36Elanga
- 49Garnacho
- 55Iqbal
- 73Mainoo
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Pope
- 2Trippier
- 5SchärSubstituted forLascellesat 90+1′minutes
- 4Botman
- 33BurnBooked at 43minsSubstituted forTargettat 78′minutes
- 36S Longstaff
- 39Guimarães Rodriguez MouraSubstituted forWillockat 78′minutes
- 7Joelinton
- 24Almirón
- 9WilsonSubstituted forWoodat 78′minutes
- 23MurphySubstituted forFraserat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Lascelles
- 8Shelvey
- 12Lewis
- 13Targett
- 18Karius
- 20Wood
- 21Fraser
- 28Willock
- 32Anderson
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 73,726
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester United 0, Newcastle United 0.
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Second Half ends, Manchester United 0, Newcastle United 0.
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Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Casemiro with a cross.
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Casemiro (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joelinton (Newcastle United).
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Attempt blocked. Antony (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Diogo Dalot.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Jamaal Lascelles replaces Fabian Schär because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Fred (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Marcus Rashford.
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Foul by Raphaël Varane (Manchester United).
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Chris Wood (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Casemiro (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
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Luke Shaw (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
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Attempt missed. Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kieran Trippier following a corner.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Bruno Fernandes.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Joe Willock replaces Bruno Guimarães because of an injury.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Matt Targett replaces Dan Burn.
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Substitution, Newcastle United. Chris Wood replaces Callum Wilson.
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Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
Sutton’s full predictions v Ian Broudie of The Lightning Seeds
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