Manchester United 0-1 Newcastle United: Key stats from the match

Yohan Cabaye’s third goal of the campaign. Newcastle United’s first win at Old Trafford since 1972. One victory for Manchester United in their last five Premier League fixtures. The pressure cooker keeps on bubbling around a flustered David Moyes, leaving the former Everton manager hot under the collar, troubled by the weight of expectation.

Frustrated home fans voiced their concerns as precious time dwindled away, hundreds departed prior to the final whistle, and many more looked on in disgust as Alan Pardew’s side grabbed a historic victory.

Key Stats

This wasn’t a game full of end-to-end action, with chances and goals galore. Instead, the match played out as a well-worked and carefully constructed tactical game plan from the visitors, which in turn nullified the approach of David Moyes’ Red Devils.

Eighteen fouls were committed by Newcastle as they retreated into their half, spearheaded by the hardworking Loïc Rémy, who was more than willing to assist in the defensive aspects, as well as frequently surging into available space behind Jonny Evans and Nemanja Vidi? whenever the opportunity for a counter-attack arose.

The Magpies finished the match with greater possession (53%) and pass completion (82%) statistics than the home side, which adds additional weight to the belief that United lack influential midfielders who can control and dictate the flow of the game.

Indeed, Robin van Persie barely showed what we’ve come to expect from the prolific Dutch goalscorer in recent years, retreating to withdrawn positions as United struggled to assemble the magical formula that could unlock Pardew’s strategically placed human wall.

Man of the Match

Following Newcastle’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea on 2 November, Pardew spoke to the BBC, suggesting that his game plan was to “conserve energy and crank it up as the game went on.”

Based around a solid defensive performance from France international Mathieu Debuchy, his tried and tested counter-attacking strategy worked almost identically, albeit with slightly more willingness to drive forward throughout the first half.

Newcastle’s 28-year-old full-back completed 80% of passes, two take-ons, three headed duels, four interceptions and three clearances. Debuchy also had a chance to score following a delightful pass from fellow Frenchman Rémy.

A solid and gritty performance, and an essential component in defending resolutely while maintaining the ability to surge forward on the counter.

Performance Score

There wasn’t a great deal between the two teams for much of the first half and fifteen minutes after the restart. However, after Moussa Sissoko surged forward down the right flank, crossing neatly into the path of the onrushing Cabaye, Man United looked rattled and frustrated – mirroring the home fan’s emotions.

Come full time, United had achieved a modest Performance Score of 53, while the victorious team in black and white stripes totalled 264.

Key Observations

It’s a sorry state of affairs when a player of the calibre of Paul Scholes steps down and his replacement is either Tom Cleverley or Phil Jones. The duo simply don’t have the technical nous in order to construct attacks from deep, having received the ball from the centre-backs.

Credit to David Moyes for instructing that United attempt to construct attacking moves in this manner, but due to the limited awareness of Jones in receiving the pass – a player who has yet to tie down a preferred position – the 21-year-old regularly struggles when deployed in central midfield, combined with this particular tactical instruction.

As hundreds of people strolled towards the exits, the rapturous chant of “Glory, Glory Man United” seems but a distant memory. Uneasy times for last year’s champions.