Report and highlights as 19-year-old debutant scores winner as Steve Bruce claims maiden victory over Man Utd on his 400th game as PL manager
Sunday 6 October 2019 22:50, UK
Matty Longstaff scored on his Premier League debut as Newcastle piled more misery on Manchester United with a 1-0 victory at St James' Park on Super Sunday.
Local lad Longstaff applied the finishing touch at the end of a counter-attack midway through the second half with a crisp low drive that secured Steve Bruce - on his 400th game as a Premier League manager - his first victory over the club he used to captain at the 23rd attempt.
The 19-year-old's goal sealed a dream debut in Newcastle's midfield alongside brother Sean Longstaff and condemned Manchester United to yet another away defeat as their winless run on the road stretched to an alarming 11 games.
The defeat leaves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side languishing in 12th in the Premier League and in the midst of their worst start to a season in 30 years, while Newcastle climb out the relegation zone up to 16th after Bruce's first home win since taking charge.
With senior first-team members Paul Pogba, Victor Lindelof and Jesse Lingard out injured, Newcastle seized the opportunity to set the tone from the first whistle with an industrious display in the North East rain.
The visitors could not cope with the pace and power of Allan Saint-Maximin, who had a couple of glimpses of the Manchester United goal, before Longstaff beat David de Gea all ends up with a thunderous, dipping volley only to be denied by the crossbar.
The chances kept on coming for Newcastle. Fabian Schar glanced a header onto the roof of the net on the half-hour mark before Miguel Almiron spurned a glorious chance to open his Newcastle account when he hesitated in getting a shot away and allowed Harry Maguire to intervene with a last-gasp block.
Andreas Pereira registered Manchester United's first shot on target on 39 minutes before Schar nearly turned a Diogo Dalot cross into his own net, but the best chance of the half for either side fell to Maguire, who headed wide from a corner from six yards in first-half stoppage time.
As was the case in the first half, Manchester United saw plenty of the ball but lacked the necessary incision needed to make the breakthrough, while at the other end their problems were compounded by the introduction of Andy Carroll, who sent a bullet header over the bar within 10 minutes of entering the fray.
And just as the peripheral figures of Daniel James and Marcus Rashford threatened to swing the game in their side's favour, Newcastle scored the goal their industrious performance warranted.
Saint-Maximin and Jetro Willems lead a charge, driving into the final third where the ball was rolled into the path of Longstaff, and he rifled a low shot beyond De Gea that sent St James' Park into raptures and Newcastle on their way to a priceless victory.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce told Sky Sports: "When you lose badly everyone comes under the pump. Thankfully we responded and for a young kid to make his debut and blast one in from 20 yards is something else. I've waited something like 20 years for a result against Manchester United. I'm delighted for everybody. What we needed was a response after last week and that was there for everyone to see.
"All you can do is answer your critics by getting a result. We knew this run was going to be difficult. I hope this is the turning point. I know I'm not going to be everyone's cup of tea but the nonsense that flies around is insulting. Hopefully this helps the cause."
Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told Sky Sports: "We don't create enough chances to win a game of football. We're disappointed. We were missing quite a few key players, but that's no excuse. The players worked hard and ran their socks off but, at the moment, when there is a decision to be made, the players don't do it instinctively.
"That's what we've been working on and luckily for us it's now the international break. We get time to evaluate what's gone on over these eight games. We've given ourselves a big, big uphill challenge to get among the top four but it's tight and we need to get a run together."
Allan Saint-Maximin was a constant thorn in the side of Manchester United but teenager Matty Longstaff applied the killer blow to their hopes of leaving St. James' Park with anything. Had it not been for the crossbar, the 19-year-old would have put paid to the visitors hopes in the first half but, not to be denied, he cemented his place as the local hero with a winning strike that will live long in the memory.
Matty and Sean Longstaff spoke to Sky Sports after the final whistle - and the beaming brothers left the pundits with smiles on their faces too after this interview...
After the international break, Newcastle travel to Chelsea on Saturday, October 19, at 3pm. Manchester United host rivals Liverpool on Renault Super Sunday at Old Trafford on Sunday October 20, live from 4pm on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off 4.30pm.
