RUBEN AMORIM finally did what we've been screaming at him for months—and wouldn't you know it, United kept a clean sheet for the first time since October.
A patched-up Red Devils side beat Newcastle 1-0 at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, and Portuguese gaffer Amorim couldn't hide his relief afterwards.
"Clean sheet. Back four. So I think I don't need a press conference," he joked. "Three points then, tomorrow, nobody is going to remember how the game was."
Too right, Ruben. Sometimes ugly gets the job done.
DORGU'S ROCKET LIGHTS UP OLD TRAFFORD
Patrick Dorgu—playing out of position as a right winger—smashed home an absolute SCREAMER in the 24th minute. The Danish youngster took a cleared long throw on the volley and left Ramsdale with absolutely no chance.
First goal in a United shirt. On Boxing Day. Against the Magpies. The lad will be dining out on that one for years.
Amorim gave the kid credit: "It's the normal life of a player. Sometimes you are in a good moment, sometimes you struggle. Maybe the game today—with a lot of transitions—is good for his space and for his ability to drive the ball."
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
With Bruno Fernandes injured and Amad Diallo off at AFCON, Amorim had to throw the kids in. And fair play to them—19-year-old Ayden Heaven put in a proper shift alongside Lisandro Martinez.
The gaffer was buzzing about the academy lad: "I'm really pleased with Ayden Heaven. You can feel that he is improving every game. In this moment, if he continues to play like that, it will be really hard for another player to take his place."
Jack Fletcher—son of United legend Darren—came on at halftime and didn't look out of place. That's the United way. Give youth a chance.
MARTINEZ SILENCES THE DOUBTERS
Everyone loves to have a go at Lisandro Martinez for being too small. But the Argentine World Cup winner was absolutely IMMENSE against Newcastle's tall forwards.
"He showed today that he is a top player," Amorim said. "Sometimes people talk about the way you defend the box because he's a small guy. But today he did really well against a team that just has tall players."
Wearing the armband in Fernandes's absence, the Butcher from Buenos Aires made block after block and took a nasty knock for his troubles. THAT'S what captaincy looks like.
HOWE'S MAGPIES RUN OUT OF MAGIC
Eddie Howe looked absolutely gutted on the touchline. His Newcastle side had 67% possession and couldn't break down a defence held together by teenagers and sellotape.
"A difficult one for us again to work out, really," Howe admitted. "I thought there was a real opportunity for us tonight. The second half was a lot better than the first, but we didn't do enough."
That's one win in their last 12 away Premier League matches. DIRE stuff from the Toon Army, who must be wondering what's happened to their European hopefuls.
Anthony Gordon had chances but couldn't convert. Lewis Hall hit the bar. Story of Newcastle's season—all the possession, none of the finishing.
KEANE GETS IT SPOT ON
Roy Keane summed it up perfectly on Sky Sports: "An ugly win but a big win. The teams I played in, we didn't play well every week but we dug in. They have to kick on now."
Absolutely bang on, Roy. This is what United have been missing—the ability to grind out results when everything's against you.
Amorim's boys are up to fifth now, just three points off the Champions League places. Wolves at home on Tuesday, then Liverpool next weekend.
The pressure's not going anywhere. But for one night at least, United showed they've still got a bit of fight left in them.
