Newcastle 1-0 Manchester United: Matt Ritchie goal lifts Magpies

 
  Newcastle gave their survival hopes a huge lift as they stunned Manchester United 1-0 at St James' Park on Sunday.

  Matt Ritchie scored the winner after 65 minutes - his first Premier League goal of the season - after Dwight Gayle's clever lay-off found him in plenty of space to slot past David de Gea. Anthony Martial had Man Utd's best chances but he was denied by debutant goalkeeper Martin Dubravka in the first half and then saw two shots blocked on the line in quick succession in the 77th minute. Alexis Sanchez also saw an effort blocked after taking the ball past Dubravka.

Player ratings
Newcastle: Dubravka (8), Dummett (7), Lascelles (7), Lejeune (7), Yedlin (7), Shelvey (8), Kenedy (6), Diame (7), Perez (6), Ritchie (7), Gayle (6)

Subs: Hayden (5), Joselu (5), Atsu (5)

Manchester United: De Gea (6), Valencia (5), Jones (6), Smalling (5), Young (5), Matic (6), Pogba (5), Lingard (5), Martial (5), Sanchez (6), Lukaku (7)

Subs: Mata (5), Carrick (5), McTominay (5)

Man of the match: Jonjo Shelvey

  The win is Newcastle's first at home since October 21 and moves them out of the relegation zone into 13th place, while Man Utd stay 16 points behind leaders Manchester City.

Defeat also leaves Man Utd embroiled in the battle for the top four, with only a six-point lead over fifth-placed Chelsea, who play West Brom on Monday Night Football.

   Mourinho has still never won a Premier League match at St James’ Park (P7 W0 D3 L4) and has managed more away league games at Newcastle without winning than at any other club in his managerial career. Newcastle made a positive start as Jonjo Shelvey's strike was pushed away by David de Gea and Ayoze Perez shot narrowly wide.

    But the visitors soon settled and Dubravka had to tip an effort from Jesse Lingard around the post before denying Martial when he was through on goal. That was to be the best opening of the first half, with Martial also heading wide from a cross and Newcastle seeing strong penalty appeals waved away when Chris Smalling appeared to take out Dwight Gayle on the corner of the box.  Newcastle took the lead less than 10 minutes later. Smalling was booked for diving and, from the resulting free-kick, Lejeune headed across goal where Gayle laid off for Ritchie to fire in unmarked.

   The advantage would not be relinquished despite strong Man Utd pressure, with Dubravka saving from Ashley Young and Martial seeing two shots blocked on the line after a corner fell to him six yards out. There was to be one final chance with almost the last kick of the match but Dubravka capped a fine debut by reacting sharply to tip away Michael Carrick's shot.

SKYSPORTS