Former Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren lost the plot at the end of the Magpies’ convincing victory over Manchester United at St James’ Park.
As the black and whites defended their lines brilliantly, despite a late injury to Nick Pope, the Red Devils managed to fight for space deep on the right-hand side. The fact that Man United were excited just to win a late throw-in summed up how tough an evening it had been for the visitors.
But the throw was easily defended by Newcastle and after Man United had failed to follow orders from the play book, McClaren charged out from the bench with gritted teeth and his blood clearly boiling – much to the delight of fans in the paddocks behind him. The night had started with Man United electing to shoot towards the Gallowgate End in the second half as the visitors tried to disrupt the pattern of Eddie Howe’s team.
READ MORE: Newcastle United 1-0 Manchester United: Red Devils sent packing as Anthony Gordon wins it
READ MORE: Newcastle United 1-0 Manchester United player ratings: Trippier’s 10/10 as Gordon & Miley shine
However, that only resulted in Newcastle going hell for leather in the opening 45 minutes and peppering the Man United goal with chance after chance. McClaren would have been a prime suspect for advising Man United to make Newcastle shoot up hill in the second period after his days as boss on Tyneside.
Yet his night ended in frustration as he clashed with some his own Man United players after some of them left the field too early and did not applaud the away fans up on Level 7.
Anthony Gordon is serious Newcastle United player of the season candidate
It may have taken Gordon a while to find his feet at Newcastle after his £45million move from Everton back in January. Some Everton fans scoffed at the fee but the forward has been excellent this season and his value has since soared.
His strike against Man United took his tally to six goals for the season and he also has five assists to his name to boot. After the game, Howe admitted that Gordon has to be dragged off the training field every day given his mission to be one of the best in the Premier League.
Forget talk of England for now, Gordon could be on his way to being player of the season in his first full campaign for the club. Howe said in his press conference: “There is a lot more to come but I would say that.
“Anthony has a desire to get better every day. Sometimes we have to take him off the training pitch when we feel he has done enough.”
At 22, it is frightening how good Gordon could push on to be in a black and white shirt. The lad is on fire at the moment.
The scary thing about Tino Livramento
Livramento had the Gallowgate End singing his name during the 1-0 win over Manchester United.
The former Chelsea star put on a defensive masterclass against Man United just as he did against the Blues last weekend and away to Paris St-Germain. But the frightening thing about Livramento is that he is being played out of position.
Of course, he can play left-back but before coming to Newcastle he’d only done so a handful of times. Livramento had vowed to make it work with Kieran Trippier in or out of the side, and that vow was far from a false promise.
The 21-year-old is only going to get better as he learns from Trippier and the duo are threatening to be an important pairing in a reshuffled back four ahead of the second half of the season.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
