Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
You may need to refresh the page for YouTube videos and other elements to display correctly.
Here’s the team news for tonight’s match…
The big news prior to kick-off is that Jonjo Shelvey has joined Newcastle from Swansea in a reported €16 million deal.
We’re underway…
Good positive start for the hosts as Newcastle win a corner.
United ultimately clear it fairly easily though.
“There’s no red shirts moving off the ball,” Glenn Hoddle points out.
It’s been a hesitant start from Man United.
PENALTY TO MAN UNITED!
MAN UNITED 1-0 NEWCASTLE (ROONEY 9)
Wayne Rooney makes no mistake from the spot to give United the lead.
The decision seemed harsh from the replay, as Fellaini headed the ball against Mbemba’s arm from close range and the ref awarded a penalty.
There’s plenty of debate as both Glenn Hoddle and Robbie Savage think the penalty decision was wrong and overly harsh.
However, Howard Webb suggests it was a correct call, with the former official saying the arm was in an “unnatural position”.
It’s been fairly uneventful since the goal.
This situation will probably suit Man United now that they have something to hold onto.
Jamie Carragher seems fairly convinced it was a penalty anyway.
Newcastle only half clear, before Fellaini fires a shot that’s blocked by Dummett.
The Belgian international is then booked for impeding the defender and committing his fourth foul of the match in the process.
Man United counter and Lingard plays through Rooney. The England striker steers his shot narrowly wide when one-on-one with Rob Elliot.
Down the other end, Wijnaldum plays a lovely one-two before his shot on goal is well saved by De Gea.
It’s been a pretty attacking approach from United so far, in stark contrast with recent matches.
Newcastle aren’t exactly playing in a cautious fashion either.
Calls for a penalty again, as an onrushing Janmaat goes down under a clumsy challenge from Lingard in the box.
This time, Robbie Savage and Howard Webb agree that it should have been a penalty.
In the build up to that incident, Fellaini blatantly took out Colback.
The Belgian international needs to be careful he doesn’t get himself sent off.
MAN UNITED 2-0 NEWCASTLE (LINGARD 38)
United double their advantage, and it’s great awareness from Wayne Rooney.
The England international is played through on goal. Coloccini catches up with him, but Rooney plays a lovely reverse pass to the onrushing Lingard, who coolly slots the ball past Elliot.
Coloccini produces a pot shot that flies just wide of the top cormer.
That’s a warning to United that they can’t afford to get overly complacent yet.
NEWCASTLE 1-2 MAN UNITED (WIJNALDUM 42)
It’s a great goal from Newcastle, who get themselves right back in this game.
The ball is headed by Mitrović into Wijnaldum’s path, and he volleys it clinically past De Gea.
Martial takes a snap shot that is deflected just wide.
It’s been a much improved performance from United compared with the game at the weekend.
HALF-TIME: NEWCASTLE 1-2 MAN UNITED
So at half-time, 2-1 to United is probably a fair reflection on how this game has panned out.
The Red Devils have produced an improved performance — to such an extent that even BT Sport pundit Paul Scholes is impressed by their play — as they have adopted a more attacking philosophy than usual.
That said, the Red Devils have had one or two shaky moments at the back, with Newcastle scoring a goal that Chris Smalling certainly could have done better for, while the hosts were unlucky to be denied a penalty to boot.
The Magpies have been competitive, though they will probably feel they could have done better for both United goals, while they’ll likely admit that the initial penalty call was correct on reflection.
The second half is underway…
Newcastle launch an attack, but Perez dwells on the ball and Martial robs it off him.
The crowd groan audibly.
Great play from Sissoko, who takes the ball past Young, but De Gea closes him down quickly and makes an important save.
That’s by no means the first time that the Spanish international has got United out of jail.
Glaring opportunity missed by United.
Martial drives at the defence before Herrera picks out Lingard, but the young midfielder shoots wastefully over.
Janmaat’s cross is headed out for a corner by Ashley Young.
United are starting to look a little nervy now.
United break and Rooney runs through on goal again, but this time Coloccini makes a well-timed challenge.
Down the other end, Colback goes down under the challenge from penalty amid cries for a penalty. Replays suggest it would have been soft as there was minimal contact between the two.
PENALTY FOR NEWCASTLE!
NEWCASTLE 2-2 MAN UNITED (MITROVIC 67)
It was another controversial penalty decision, as Smalling seemingly wrestled Mitrovic to the floor but United were not at all happy with the call.
The Serbian youngster then confidently slots the spot kick home.
The momentum is completely with Newcastle now, as another driving run from Sissoko causes panic in the United box.
This has surely been Man United’s most entertaining game of the season so far, which wouldn’t be hard to be fair.
Memphis has been pretty poor since replacing Lingard. United are being exposed down his side, with Wijnaldum running riot of late.
Meanwhile, Mata has just come on for Herrera. It looks like Martial will take a more central role alongside Rooney, while the Spanish international will play out wide.
More nervousness in the United defence, as Blind lets the ball bounce.
Mitrovic steals the ball off the Dutch defender, but his tame shot is well off target.
MAN UNITED 3-2 NEWCASTLE (ROONEY 79)
Rooney has just sensationally curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box to restore United’s advantage.
That’s Rooney’s 14th goal against Newcastle — he’s scored more goals against the Magpies than any other club.
Gouffran has replaced the tiring Colback.
United have just over eight minutes to hang on.
Great play from Memphis, who beats his man before crossing to Fellaini, but the Belgian’s header is straight at Rob Elliot.
United may come to rue that miss.
19-year-old Ivan Toney replaces Tioté for the dying minutes.
United really have been unrecognisable at times from the team that have looked so laboured in their play for much of this season.
NEWCASTLE 3-3 MAN UNITED (DUMMETT 89)
Incredible drama! Smalling heads the ball straight to Dummett on the edge of the area, and the full-back strikes it gloriously first time into the top corner.
Who could have predicted we’d see arguably the game of the season tonight?
We’re in injury time and Perez has been replaced by De Jong.
This game has been so unpredictable that you wouldn’t rule out another goal before the final whistle.
FULL-TIME: NEWCASTLE 3-3 MAN UNITED
“It’s been an absolute classic,” say BT Sport, not unreasonably.
We were somehow treated to an end-to-end thriller from two teams that have been struggling for goals of late.
Both sides had spells of superiority, while there was no shortage of great goals and defensive mishaps.
All in all, it’s hard to begrudge Newcastle a point, as they showed admirable resolve to twice come back when it looked like they were beaten.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and stay tuned for more reaction.
