I think so. That felt to me like a game where a lot of things came together. In a season where much has fallen apart (not least the stadium itself), the victory over Newcastle seemingly brought everyone and everything together.
There have been few occasions where we’ve felt as one this campaign, but last night’s victory finally felt like we were United.
When looking at that game and performance, it appeared as if things were coming together even if it’s a little late.
The display from the team was better than what we’ve seen recently and is up there for one of the better performances of the year especially at Old Trafford. We made some great blocks, last-ditch tackles and goal-line clearances with the return of the high-fives in defence. The team looked as if it was square pegs in square holes (sort of). The midfield was midfielding. The young guns shone through. We saw the returns of some very important players. There was a ‘sitting down’ moment by Hojlund. And this game gave us another cold picture.
Yes, we conceded 2 goals and it was far from perfect, but I think there’s something perfect about that, to have these imperfections, that we did fret towards the end. And it's because of those problems that I believe we all got even closer because we had to get out of it together.
Throughout 23/24, this team and group of players have rarely been United as they all looked disjointed. Last night was one of the truly United performances of the season, in more ways than one.
The game itself was quite entertaining, a 5-goal thriller worthy of a theatre.
I don’t think either side truly controlled the game although there were periods that one had more dominance than the other. But this is what led to it being entertaining.
Newcastle started off stronger before United eventually grew into the game and began dictating the play.
On the half hour mark, Kobbie Mainoo makes it 1–0 with a very composed finish. Celebrations were slightly subdued thanks to the inevitable ‘is he offside?’ question. The youngster did appear off but was actually kept onside by Newcastle skipper Kieran Trippier who was doing his best Casemiro impression from the Arsenal game.
After that, it was Newcastle who took the initiative and not long after the second half, got their equalizer through Anthony Gordon who scored in the reverse fixture as well.
It was at this point that I think many feared United would falter because that’s what we do and due to our sloppiness at the start of the second half, we could’ve found ourselves going behind.
As I said earlier, before that equalizer, Casemiro made a brilliant clearance off the line to keep it at 1–0 just before halftime.
Not long after that Gordon goal, Wan-Bissaka’s poor control gave Newcastle a 3v1 on the break. But no worries as Sofyan Amrabat said hold my beer.
His last-ditch block to deny Alexander Isak was incredible and probably kept us in the game.
Those two moments by him and Casemiro shouldn’t go unnoticed as they were the equivalent to scoring 2 goals. Andre Onana even made a great save in a 1v1 situation.
This all allowed us to have something to hold on to and give us the confidence we needed during those moments.
And come the hour mark, Amad hits a ferocious strike after a corner was headed away. The power of the hit was so good, it was past the ‘keeper before he even dived.
2–1 United and Amad gets his first PL goal for United. I was so pleased for him because he should’ve had more game time than this and is taking his chances now that he’s getting them.
Eddie Howe then rang the changes in a bid to salvage the situation while Erik ten Hag persisted with his starting XI to the frustration of many.
The MUFC boss was proved right in the end as the three substitutions he made did change the game as soon after coming on, Rasmus Hojlund all but sealed the deal with his 15th goal of his debut season.
This celebration from him seemed a little personal 😄.
United posted this on their official X and wasn’t something I have seen often enough from the club. Whether this was also taken personally or simply imitating Hojlund’s celebration through the use of an emoji, I liked it all the same because we need the club to sometimes fight back whenever shit gets spoken about us. That really gets the fans onside.
However, as in keeping with this season, the game didn’t end without a late scare.
Lewis Hall then matched Amad’s strike by smashing in his own left-footed hit after the ball came to him from a clearance from a Newcastle corner. Quite a few similarities with the two goals.
This was Hall’s 2nd goal for the club. His first was in the 0–3 win for the Magpies in the Carabao Cup against United earlier this season.
But that came a little too late as (thankfully) United managed to hold out and get the much needed 3 points. That was only our second win in nine matches since the last international break.
Erik ten Hag is a man under fire but performances and results like this will do him a world of good. That is exactly what he would’ve wanted to see from his players in the final home game and ahead of the trip to Wembley.
To see his players put in a performance he can be proud of, some youngsters shining through and the comebacks of key players, it really did come full circle in this one.
His speech at the end was of a man whose sole purpose is to do everything he can to get that FA Cup back to Old Trafford, just as he said. His words were inspiring and seemed to bring everyone together, including us fans.
Very powerful words from the boss and regardless of what his future may hold, for the next two games and especially that final, he, the team and us should be United, for one last time at least.
That could’ve been the final time we see Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford but we’ll have to wait. I want him to stay because I can see a top coach in him. ten Hag has had to deal with much more than any manager would have to at any club. He deserves time and proper backing before we can truly judge him.
Erik ten Hag
IN!
Ratings:
Onana — 6
AWB — 5
Casemiro — 6.5
Evans — 6
Dalot — 6
Amrabat — 7.5
Mainoo — 7
Amad — 8
Bruno — 8 MOTM
Garnacho — 6
McTominay — 5
Hojlund — 7
Martinez — 6
Rashford — 6
Eriksen — 6
Erik ten Hag — 7
Background image: Amad | Image credit: Getty Images via Eurosport