After blitzing their trail with a run of five wins in six games, the bookmakers wouldn’t have been scoffed at even if they had earmarked Manchester United as the Premier League’s in-form team.
That was of course prior to them having been taken apart ruthlessly during that run by their no-nonsense neighbors Manchester City at Old Trafford on 29 October, as well as in the EFL Cup tie with Newcastle three days later. When those demolition derbies wreaked their havoc on the United team, everyone instantly knew the statistics were quite dodgy, to say the least.
This time again, trying to go chin-up against a disciplined, well-lubricated and extremely well-drilled side, Erik ten Hag’s team were practically toothless.
In fact, it was all so ludicrous that, somewhere towards the end, good old Harry Maguire had to double up in front as an emergency striker, where the England man actually thought he had scored. The effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
Manchester United clearly lack Newcastle’s resilience and their falcon’s eye for an opportunity and their seemingly untiring doggedness.
Sadly, on a night when Newcastle lost the services of yet another key man, this time their goalkeeper, Dutchman Ten Hag’s hollow complaint that his opponents had been given better preparation time sounded truly shallow and too weak of an excuse.
And, as far as their Champions League campaign is concerned, Ten Hag’s side are now probably on bended knees and clasping hands in fervent prayer hoping for an unlikely combination of results for them to slither into the last 16.