Newcastle defy the odds to clip Man Utd

AP:

RAVAGED BY injuries and hurting from a cruel VAR call in midweek, Newcastle were hardly in ideal shape as the same 11 players were sent out by manager Eddie Howe for a third straight game for the English Premier League meeting with Manchester United yesterday.

You’d never have known.

Newcastle’s dominant 1-0 win at St James’ Park was testament to the unwavering spirit in a squad being stretched to the limit as the Saudi-owned club challenges for trophies on all fronts.

At the same time, it was a reality check for Man United after their recent revival in the league marked by narrow, scrappy wins and sensational goals.

Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal proved to be enough for Newcastle, who — in the space of a week — have beaten Chelsea and Man United either side of being denied a famous Champions League win at Paris Saint-Germain because of a roundly condemned handball decision.

“It’s been a massive week for us,” Gordon said. “The same 11 players have played three games on the bounce and we’ve pulled through.

“It’s not just the guys who are injured — the guys who are playing are injured. We’ve got kicks and bruises all over.”

Indeed, injuries are really starting to bite. The list was already into double figures before goalkeeper Nick Pope went off in the 86th minute with a suspected dislocated shoulder, sustained when he dived to stop a shot that never actually reached him.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier, though. Newcastle don’t have a midweek off in December, during which they play in the League Cup quarter-finals and finish off their Champions League group campaign.

Their remaining fit players are running on fumes but are still decently placed in fifth — seven points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who beat Wolverhampton 2-1 yesterday.

United, who had won five of their previous six league games, dropped to seventh place and had only one shot on target in a tired-looking display, coming three days after a 3-3 draw at Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Yesterday’s Results

Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd

Forest 0-1 Everton

Burnley 5-0 Sheffield

Arsenal 2-1 Wolves

Brentford 3-1 Luton Town