3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Manchester United 3 Newcastle United 2
Source: Themag

Wednesday night's match ended Manchester United 3 Newcastle United 2.

Ahead of each match we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

A game full of incident.

Plenty to talk about after this one...

On this occasion it is David Punton:

Believe in Lew

Lewis Hall has had to work extremely hard for his chance and it's starting to pay off.

The lad looks a player and it was a decent goal to give us late hope / make the score look a bit more flattering. More of the same please, Lew!

Sod's law

We got a backlash from Man Utd after their loss to Arsenal. Sod's law, innit.

They ended up shading this game.

Howe, of course, with his first choice centre halves injured and the second choice keeper in goal.

No disrespect, they're battling hard, but we remain a bit threadbare.

It's too simplistic to say 'we should be winning at Old Trafford'. Our record there is woeful.

The crossbar and an inept ref didn't help either.

Mersey man

Anthony Gordon is a breath of fresh air and a bloody good player to boot.

What a brilliant interview at the end of the game.

There was yet another goal for the little Scouser, too. Putting Rashford to shame.

Some awful defending at times, was punished. We have to do better and we all know we're better than that.

That Aussie again!

Australian referee Jarred Gillett is becoming a thorn in our side.

This time the Aussie was on the VAR. The tackle on Gordon was a stonewall penalty and it would have been given up the other end I'd wager.

Was he off making a cup of coffee when the tackle occurred? Hopeless is the word I'd use.

We were shafted. Well and truly. No wonder some clubs want to get rid of it.

What they really need to do is get it right!

No number nine

This feels like groundhog day but Callum Wilson was missing yet again.

The wider issue, can we carry this next season?

The fella just can't stay fit. It's a nightmare, for the player and for the club.

You can bet your bottom dollar this will be happening again next season. We must have another striker option in 24/25.

Stats via BBC Sport:

Manchester United 3 Newcastle United 2 - Wednesday 15 May 8pm

Newcastle United:

Gordon 49, Hall 90+2

Man U:

Mainoo 31, Amad 57, Hojlund 84

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Man U 45% Newcastle 55%

Total shots were Man U 17 Newcastle 21

Shots on target were Man U 8 Newcastle 8

Corners were Man U 9 Newcastle 9

Referee: Robert Jones

Newcastle United team:

Dubravka, Trippier (Schar 63), Krafth, Burn, Hall, Longstaff (Barnes 77), Bruno, Anderson (Joelinton 62), J Murphy (Almiron 62), Gordon, Isak

Unused subs:

Pope, Dummett, Ritchie, White, A Murphy

Newcastle United matches now remaining:

Sunday 19 May 2024 - Brentford v Newcastle (4pm)

Wednesday 22 May 2024 - Tottenham v Newcastle (at MCG - Melbourne Cricket Ground)

Friday 24 May 2024 - A-League All Stars team v Newcastle (at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne)