Edinson Cavani came off the bench in the second half to rescue a point for Manchester United against a resolute Newcastle United. The Magpies had taken the lead through Allan Saint-Maximin in the first half, but they failed to compound their advantage.
In the last of the “Boxing Day” fixtures, relegation-threatened Newcastle welcomed Manchester United to Saint James’ Park. The Red Devils had been out of action for nearly two weeks due to Covid-induced cancellations, and their rustiness showed in the opening minutes of the match, as Allan Saint-Maximin gave the Magpies an early lead.
The goal came about due to Sean Longstaff stealing the ball off Raphael Varane deep inside the Manchester United half before playing it to Saint-Maximin. The attacker cut inside, dribbled past a couple of defenders, and found the corner of the net.
Newcastle continued to create plenty of opportunities in the first half. Both Joelinton and Jonjo Shelvey tested their luck from distance but, while the former missed the goal by a whisker, the latter stung David De Gea’s palms with a fierce shot.
The Magpies went into the break in the ascendency and came out of the interval with their attacking intent intact. Minutes after the restart, Emil Krafth created space for himself to cross from the right flank, but his ball in was misjudged by Saint-Maximin, as he somehow failed to tap it in for his – and Newcastle’s – second with the goal gaping.
Manchester United began to grow into the game and found a way back through Edinson Cavani in the 70th minute; the Uruguayan squeezed his shot through a horde of Newcastle bodies after his initial attempt was blocked. Moments later, miscommunication between the Magpies defence nearly let the Uruguayan in for his second, but, not expecting the ball to fall to him, the forward scuffed his shot.
Newcastle had late opportunities to win the game. Jacob Murphy rattled the inside of the post with a shot from the left side of the box. The ball fell to Miguel Almiron just outside the box, and his curled effort looked destined for the top corner, only for De Gea to claw it away to safety. A point for the Magpies takes them above Norwich City in the table, but they remain some way away from Premier League survival.
