Rashford and James have too much for sloppy Newcastle

Marcus Rashford and Daniel James provided the goods to their manager before a Bruno Fernandes’ penalty ensured yet another win over a limited Newcastle side. Steve Bruce’s team managed to get back after going 1-0 behind, but it’s all they could do before sinking without trace after the restart.

Despite enjoying most of the possession in early stages, the Red Devils hardly looked like scoring. Their talismanic forward Marcus Rashford provided the spark when he cut in from the left wing, stepped around his marker and slammed the ball inside the near post of Karl Darlow’s goal to give his team the lead.

Newcastle haven’t got a great record of coming back in the games they concede first, but they did manage to draw themselves level at Old Trafford. Allan Saint-Maximin levelled for the Magpies with a classy volley that bounced off the ground and flew into the roof of David De Gea’s net.

Welsh winger Daniel James restored the lead for Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer’s side after sneaking in behind Newcastle’s defenders and finding the bottom corner. The former Swansea starlet did well in Manchester United’s midweek win against Real Sociedad in the Europa League and his goal will do wonders for his confidence as he becomes one of Solskjaer’s main men.

Bruce will be sweating on the fitness of his strikers in the coming weeks because he had to take the Joelington off after the Brazilian’s picked up an injury. With their main goalscorer Callum Wilson a long-term injury casualty, things are looking grim for the northeast club who are left hovering just above the relegation zone.

Watched by their legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United controlled the play in the second half and making the visitors defend desperately. And the match was all but finished when Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes sealed the points from the penalty spot with 15 minutes left.

The win lifts Manchester United back to the second spot in the table as they climb above Leicester City on goal difference. First place is ten points away, so the title may be out of their reach, but Solskjaer will be delighted if he brings Champions League football back to Old Trafford.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 25

Friday

Wolverhampton - Leeds 1-0 (0-0)

/Meslier 64' og/

Saturday

Southampton - Chelsea 1-1 (1-0)

/Minamino 33- Mount 54 pen/

Burnley - WBA 0-0

Liverpool - Everton 0-2 (0-1)

/Richarlison 3, Sigurdsson 83/

Fulham - Sheffield United 1-0 (0-0)

/Lookman 61/

Sunday

West Ham - Tottenham 2-1 (1-0)

/Antonio 3, Lingard 47 - Moura 64/

Aston Villa - Leicester 1-2 (0-2)

/Maddison 19, Barnes 23/

Arsenal - Manchester City 0-1 (0-1)

/Sterling 3/

Manchester United - Newcastle United 3-1 (1-1)

/Rashford 30, James 57, Fernandes 75 pen - Saint-Maximin 36/

Monday

21:00 (1.85) Brighton & Hove Albion (3.40) Crystal Palace (4.60)

***odds are subject to change