Newcastle United 3 Manchester United 3: Rooney shines but Van Gaal's men can't overcome resilient hosts

Late leveller: Dummett fires Newcastle's third past De Gea
Ian MacNicol/Getty images
James Benge12 January 2016

Wayne Rooney and Manchester United both turned back the clock with exciting displays full of attacking intent, but it was not enough to overcome Newcastle United in a 3-3 draw.

It was a thoroughly deserved result for Steve McClaren and his struggling side, who came back from a two goal deficit in spectacular style through the outstanding Georginio Wijnaldum before Paul Dummett netted a late equaliser. The result may not have suited Van Gaal but substance and style at last combined in an excellent display.

Both managers entered Tuesday’s contest feeling the pressure of recent form. Newcastle had yet again fallen out of the FA Cup at an early stage and were winless in their last five whilst questions about the visitors style of play dogged them over recent weeks.

Van Gaal’s United found themselves outclassed for much of the opening nine minutes, unable to steal the ball from a confident home side, but scored from effectively their first attack in contentious circumstances. A Daley Blind corner found Marouane Fellaini at the backpost to head straight into Chancel Mbemba’s hand.

The defender’s hand was unquestionably in an ‘unnatural’ position but, just inches away from his opponent, there was nothing he could do to move it.

Newcastle United vs Manchester United - player ratings

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Mike Dean’s decision will doubtless prompt further debate on the interpretation of the handball law just days after Leicester left White Hart Lane feeling aggrieved after a penalty given against Nathan Dyer.

Wayne Rooney calmly slotted the penalty past Rob Elliot and Newcastle’s bright start was for naught.

Having netted his 13th goal against United Rooney, playing much more like the confident number nine he has been in past years, nearly had another midway on 25 mins after Ander Herrera slipped him behind the backline after an unprecedented break at pacer by Van Gaal’s side.

The visitor’s second was to come on 38 minutes as Rooney turned provider, slipping a reverse pass through for Jesse Lingard to finish a breathless counter-attack started by the excellent Herrera.

Newcastle seemed on their way out of the contest but with an outstanding player such as Wijnaldum in the pocket between midfield and attack they always looked like creating chances.

Having brought an excellent save from David de Gea on 29 minutes he made no mistake 13 minutes later as a loose Fellaini header found him on the edge of the area, slotting into the bottom corner.

The second half once more saw Newcastle start brightly and De Gea, on his 200th start, needed to stay big to block out Moussa Sissoko five minutes in.

Lingard could, and should have killed the game off on 55 minutes. Martial bustled into the area from the right, squaring the ball to Herrera. A backheel flick found the winger 10 yards out, unmarked, only for him to blaze over the bar.

McClaren’s side had felt aggrieved after two marginal penalty appeals on Daryl Janmaat and Jack Colback had been denied, but they had a fine spot by Dean to thank for their equaliser. He saw Chris Smalling grappling with Aleksandar Mitrovic and the Serbian striker coolly stroked in the spot kick to make it 2-2.

Van Gaal’s back four suddenly found themselves unable to perform the most basic tasks, with Blind lucky that Mitrovic missed the target after he had miscued a kick under pressure.

But as had been the case in the first half United weathered the storm and picked up what seemed to be a crucial winner. Substitute Memphis Depay had been poor in defence but his driving run from the left crafted space for his team-mates. The winger’s shot was blocked but came back to Rooney, whose powerful curling effort was too much for Elliot.

There was still time for Fellaini to power a close range header straight at the Newcastle keeper, which ought to have decided the game.

Dummett then saved a deserved point for the hosts in the 90th minute, powering in a shot that deflected off Smalling and past De Gea.

The two points dropped leaves United sixth in the table and eight points off the top. They may have rediscovered the United way, but it cost them dearly in the end.

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