There were many encouraging aspects, not least the performance of Wayne Rooney who scored twice to continue his own personal renewal. There were even signs of the ‘real’ Man United. Pace, precision and flair, but it was all too brief.
And as Paul Scholes put it on BT Sport, “remember they were playing a team second from bottom here.”
Louis van Gaal’s side should have been out of sight by the time Paul Dummett slammed home a last-gasp equaliser. There was certainly nothing boring about United’s performance but the manager will be furious with how his team let three points slip.
Twice leading, the visitors’ defensive frailties were all too evident and although credit must be given to Newcastle, there was an inevitability about the comeback.
There are moments when you feel for the under-pressure manager. His side should have been home and dry long before the final act but the fact remains they have now slipped down to sixth.
- Ryan Bailey
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2. Victory at last for Villa
Crystal Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey, centre, fails to stop the ball. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
They had not tasted success since beating Bournemouth in August and had already set a new club record of 19 league games without victory. It was also Remi Garde’s first win as manager.
Wayne Hennessey’s awful error gifted the hosts the points and how they needed a piece of luck. They remain marooned to the bottom of the Premier League, eight points from safety, but at least they have something to work with now.
Not so much a lifeline but a semblance of hope. They still require a miracle to pull of the greatest of escapes but at least the burden of that unwanted record is off their backs.
A genuine lifeline or a false dawn? We’ll soon find out when Leicester visit Villa Park on Saturday.
- Ryan Bailey
3. Referee got more right than wrong
With its relentless tempo and series of controversial incidents, tonight’s Newcastle-Man United match was not an easy game to referee.
However, while it was not a perfect performance, Mike Dean and his officials acquitted themselves relatively well overall this evening.
Both the penalties awarded were the correct calls — as Howard Webb pointed out on BT Sport, Chancel Mbemba’s arm was in an unnatural decision to stop Marouane Fellaini’s header early on, while in what was effectively a wrestling match between Chris Smalling and Aleksandar Mitrovic, the defender committed the initial infringement to allow Newcastle back into the game after 67 minutes.
And while Magpies fans will rightly complain that they should have had another penalty when Daryl Janmaat was taken out by a clumsy Jesse Lingard challenge, by and large, Dean coped well in difficult circumstances.
- Paul Fennessy
4. Dimitri Payet continues to make the difference
It is no surprise that Dimitri Payet’s return from injury has coincided with West Ham’s upturn in fortune.
The Hammers won their fourth game on the trot, as they beat Bournemouth 3-1 this evening, with the French midfielder influential as ever, scoring the equaliser and delivering an accomplished performance.
Payet has been sensational this season, routinely starring both prior to and after his recent setback.
Granted, he has 15 caps for France and was highly thought of in Ligue One, so it’s not as if Payet has gone completely under the radar, but it’s somewhat of a surprise that, until this season, most English football fans will probably not have heard of the former Lille and Marseille star.
Yet his inclusion in the Ligue One Team of the Year in both the 2012-13 and the 2014-15 season shows his quality has not become apparent overnight.
At a deal believed to be worth over £10million, the talented attacking midfielder wasn’t exactly bought on the cheap either, but at the moment, it’s looking as if the Hammers have arguably secured the signing of the season.
Thrilling United deliver improved display & more Premier League talking points
1. The performance but not the result Man United wanted
IT WAS BETTER, so much better but the fact remains that Man United have now won just two of their last 12 games in all competitions.
There were many encouraging aspects, not least the performance of Wayne Rooney who scored twice to continue his own personal renewal. There were even signs of the ‘real’ Man United. Pace, precision and flair, but it was all too brief.
And as Paul Scholes put it on BT Sport, “remember they were playing a team second from bottom here.”
Louis van Gaal’s side should have been out of sight by the time Paul Dummett slammed home a last-gasp equaliser. There was certainly nothing boring about United’s performance but the manager will be furious with how his team let three points slip.
Twice leading, the visitors’ defensive frailties were all too evident and although credit must be given to Newcastle, there was an inevitability about the comeback.
Van Gaal expressed his frustration afterwards as his team ‘threw it away’ by failing to take their chances and leaving themselves exposed at the back.
There are moments when you feel for the under-pressure manager. His side should have been home and dry long before the final act but the fact remains they have now slipped down to sixth.
- Ryan Bailey
2. Victory at last for Villa
157 days but the wait is finally over. At long last Aston Villa have recorded their first Premier League victory since the opening day of the season as Joleon Lescott’s header edged a game devoid of quality.
They had not tasted success since beating Bournemouth in August and had already set a new club record of 19 league games without victory. It was also Remi Garde’s first win as manager.
Wayne Hennessey’s awful error gifted the hosts the points and how they needed a piece of luck. They remain marooned to the bottom of the Premier League, eight points from safety, but at least they have something to work with now.
Not so much a lifeline but a semblance of hope. They still require a miracle to pull of the greatest of escapes but at least the burden of that unwanted record is off their backs.
A genuine lifeline or a false dawn? We’ll soon find out when Leicester visit Villa Park on Saturday.
- Ryan Bailey
3. Referee got more right than wrong
With its relentless tempo and series of controversial incidents, tonight’s Newcastle-Man United match was not an easy game to referee.
However, while it was not a perfect performance, Mike Dean and his officials acquitted themselves relatively well overall this evening.
Both the penalties awarded were the correct calls — as Howard Webb pointed out on BT Sport, Chancel Mbemba’s arm was in an unnatural decision to stop Marouane Fellaini’s header early on, while in what was effectively a wrestling match between Chris Smalling and Aleksandar Mitrovic, the defender committed the initial infringement to allow Newcastle back into the game after 67 minutes.
And while Magpies fans will rightly complain that they should have had another penalty when Daryl Janmaat was taken out by a clumsy Jesse Lingard challenge, by and large, Dean coped well in difficult circumstances.
- Paul Fennessy
4. Dimitri Payet continues to make the difference
It is no surprise that Dimitri Payet’s return from injury has coincided with West Ham’s upturn in fortune.
The Hammers won their fourth game on the trot, as they beat Bournemouth 3-1 this evening, with the French midfielder influential as ever, scoring the equaliser and delivering an accomplished performance.
Payet has been sensational this season, routinely starring both prior to and after his recent setback.
Granted, he has 15 caps for France and was highly thought of in Ligue One, so it’s not as if Payet has gone completely under the radar, but it’s somewhat of a surprise that, until this season, most English football fans will probably not have heard of the former Lille and Marseille star.
Yet his inclusion in the Ligue One Team of the Year in both the 2012-13 and the 2014-15 season shows his quality has not become apparent overnight.
At a deal believed to be worth over £10million, the talented attacking midfielder wasn’t exactly bought on the cheap either, but at the moment, it’s looking as if the Hammers have arguably secured the signing of the season.
- Paul Fennessy
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