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Manchester United came into this game after winning six in their last seven games. Looking to cement their third position they faced Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing day. The Magpies came into the match after just one win and 4 losses in their last six matches.
Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle United (Rooney 23’)
Trademark Manchester United counter attack. Mata plays delightful diagonal ball towards Radamel Falcao who slid to send the ball across the face of the goal for Rooney to simply tap the ball into the back of the net.
Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United (Rooney 23’)
A crisp Manchester United team goal. Falcao slid into Anita to dispossess him. Jones passes it to Mata who squares it to Rooney. With only Alnwick to beat he strokes the ball past him into the back of the net.
Manchester United 3-0 Newcastle United (Van Persie 53’)
A goal that United fans have become accustomed seeing ever since the Flying Dutchman signed for us. Rooney chips the ball right into Van Persie’s path who ghosts in between Janmaat and Taylor and cushions a header to the far past to give Alnwick no chance. He has now scored 5 goals in his last 6 games.
Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United (Cisse (penalty) 87’)
Phil Jones sticks out a tired leg and Colback makes the most of it. Referee immediately points to the spot. Cisse calmly lifts it into the top right corner denying De Gea yet another cleansheet which he must have been looking forward to.
Louis Van Gaal will be a little disappointed that his team could not hold on to the clean sheet but will be very impressed with Wayne Rooney’s performance in his new central midfield role.
With this win Manchester United becomes the first English club to register 50 Boxing Day victories, stays third with a 3 point lead over fourth-placed Southampton and seven and 10 points behind Manchester City and Chelsea respectively. Newcastle slip to tenth with a point’s lead over eleventh placed Stoke and 2 points shy of ninth placed Liverpool.
