Brentford (a) SOLD OUT

Update:
On a pre, in Germany 

2023/24:
Spurs (n) coverage 

2023/24:
Leaks costly again
at Old Trafford

Manchester United  3  Newcastle  2

Match action is online here

Newcastle's European hopes still lie in the balance after a disappointing defeat at Old Trafford on Wednesday, gifting three goals to the hosts and squandering numerous chances in front of goal.

Trailing to Kobbie Mainoo's 31st minute opener after dominating the early stages, the visitors levelled just four minutes into the second period when Anthony Gordon latched on to Jacob Murphy's cross.

Parity lasted less than ten minutes however, a fine first Premier League goal by ex-mackem loanee Amad Diallo leaving Martin Dubravka completely helpless.

Substitute Rasmus Hojlund then appeared to have sealed victory six minutes before the end of normal time with what was almost his first touch, only for Lewis Hall to net from distance following a corner. 

However there was to be no dramatic late leveller and what may have been the best chance in a decade for Eddie Howe's side to claim maximum points here instead saw them leave empty-handed. 

Newcastle ended the night seventh - overtaken by Chelsea thanks to their midweek 2-1 win at Brighton - and level on points with the Red Devils, but still ahead of them by virtue of a superior goal difference of 24.

The task for the Magpies away to Brentford on Sunday is now simple: emulate or improve on the result that Erik ten Hag's team achieve at Brighton.

That would guarantee seventh and a Conference League playoff place, unless Manchester United then overcame Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on Saturday week - earning them a Europa League spot, pushing the sixth place finisher into the Europa Conference and depriving the team finishing in seventh of European football.

The other positive scenario requires Chelsea to lose at home to Bournemouth on Sunday and Newcastle to win at Brentford, in order to bridge the three point gap and occupy sixth place on goal difference: enough to snag either a Europa League or a Europa Conference berth depending on the Wembley outcome. 

Back to this game though and rarely have the Magpies created so many clear chances at this venue - even including their 3-0 Carabao Cup win here last year.

Gordon, Sean Longstaff and Alexander Isak all failed when one-on-one with Andre Onano, although Gordon's was due to a clear foul by Sofyan Amrabat missed by onfield referee Robert Jones and ignored by VAR man Jarred Gillett - who presumably thought that the technology had already been scrapped.

As well as being denied that penalty, Dan Burn saw his header cleared off the line by Casemiro a fraction before crossing it, Bruno Guimaraes missed a clear header and Isak's blocked shot hit the bar.

The substitutes fared no better: Joelinton's header tipped over and Miggy Almiron almost converting a Gordon cross-shot.

Despite that profligacy it was a series of defensive lapses that ultimately cost the black & whites dearly.

The returning Kieran Trippier played Mainoo onside for the first, a poor clearing header from Murphy let the unmarked Diallo fire in the second and Hojlund was flanked by three defenders when he dispatched a low shot under the culpable Dubravka for the third.

Self-inflicted blows at both ends of the pitch tonight leave Newcastle more reliant on the efforts of others in order to achieve a tangible reward for this season.

Hope isn't lost though and it's now up to us - and Manchester City - to make this result immaterial.

Full match report to follow.

Team: Dubravka, Trippier (Schar 62), Krafth, Burn, Hall, Longstaff (Barnes 77), Guimaraes, Anderson (Joelinton 62), J.Murphy (Almiron 62), Isak, Gordon.
Subs n/u: Pope, Dummett, A.Murphy, White, Ritchie.

Booked: Anderson, Gordon, Schar.

Goals: Gordon 49, Hall 90+2.

MUFC: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Evans, Dalot, Mainoo (Martinez 82), Amrabat, Diallo (Hojlund 82), McTominay, Garnacho (Rashford 82), Fernandes (Eriksen 90).
Subs n/u: Bayindir, Antony, Collyer, Forson, Kambwala.

Booked: Casemiro, Diallo, Amrabat.

Goals: Mainoo 31, Diallo 57, Hojlund 84.

Crowd: 73,582 including 3,000 away fans.

Former Magpie Ryan Taylor was in the away end.

The well-publicised drainage problems at Old Trafford during the Arsenal match prompted a few travelling Mags to take their own precautions.

We spotted folks sporting swimming goggles and snorkels, but the lad clad in a diving suit and flippers made the biggest splash.  

Eddie Howe said:

"We had chances and I felt we could score at any moment. But we have lost the game because of how we defended their goals. We should hang our heads really. The game got away from us in key moments.

"I don't think our goal felt at risk, but we've conceded three goals and the manner of those goals is hugely frustrating."

On the penalty claim:

"I thought it was a penalty. I thought that’s what VAR was good at.

"I have always been in an era where the referee makes a decision and I back it. I would possibly keep it with offsides, but I want more power with referees."

On Kieran Trippier starting:

"It was dictated to us by Tino's (Livramento) injury. 

(He) picked up an injury on Saturday to his ankle, so Kieran had to play when he's had limited training time. 

"Like a number of players for us this season, he's put himself forward for the group, and I think he's played well, but he was fatiguing in that moment, so we had to take him off."

Anthony Gordon:

"I have watched it back and it is a clear penalty.

"I do not mind the referee getting the decision wrong on the pitch, but I do not understand what the point of VAR is then. It is there to correct mistakes.

"Amrabat goes down my Achilles and then pushes me in the back. Casimiro gets the ball but there are two fouls before that. I just don't see the point in (VAR).

"I knew straight away. That is why I did not appeal because I did not mind the ref not giving it. It is fast. But I will wait for the VAR to check. You can see me tell my team-mates it is a clear penalty.

"Then we carry on and I have got no sock left. How can that be possible?"

Referee: Robert Jones - the Merseysider completed a full set of appointments in this fixture, having overseen the Carabao Cup meeting here and PL fixture at SJP.

Jones also refereed our early season 0-1 loss at Manchester City and was most recently seen in the middle for our epic 4-3 victory over West Ham.

VAR: Jarred Gillett who maintained his history of non-decision making. Wearing glasses at Stockley Park doesn't improve his ineptitude.

Stats: 

Kobbie Mainoo's opener was the first PL goal that Newcastle have conceded to Manchester United since Edison Cavani at SJP in December 2021, ending a run of 320 minutes.

Newcastle missed the chance of their first PL double against the Red Devils; they last beat them home and away in the league in the 1930/31 season.

They now need to emulate or better Manchester United's season-closing result on Sunday in order to finish above them for the first time since 1976/77.

This was the tenth time that the two clubs have met three times in the same season; Newcastle are yet to emerge with a 100% record intact.

Anthony Gordon netted his 11th PL goal of the season and now has 12 for the Magpies in that competition, taking him level with Ruel Fox, Kevin Nolan, Allan Saint-Maximin and Steven Taylor.

Lewis Hall scored his second Newcastle goal and like the first earlier this season, it came from distance against Manchester United at the Stretford End.

That first came in the Carabao Cup while tonight's was a debut strike in the Premier League - making him the 169th to do so from the 267 players to have worn our colours in that competition.

Hall also becomes the 20th different Magpie to find the net this season in the PL, extending a record that had stood at 17 before the current campaign. It also equals Manchester United's record PL tally, which was set in the 2012/13 season.

With one game remaining, Newcastle have now netted 32 times on the road in the PL, equal with their tally last season. Their highest away total is 34, coming in the 2001/02 season.

In all competitions so far this season, Newcastle have scored 98 goals (81 in the PL, six in the CL, six in the FAC and five in the Carabao Cup).

That PL total of 81 has only been exceeded once by the club, with 82 scored in their debut season of 1993/94, which consisted of 42 games not 38.

Newcastle have conceded 340 goals during league and cup games against Manchester United, the highest total by any club. The Magpies have scored 249 times against them in all competitions.

Magpies v MUFC @ Old Trafford - PL era:

2023/24 lost 2-3 Gordon, Hall
2023/24 won 3-0 Almiron, Hall, Willock (LC)
2022/23 drew 0-0
2021/22 lost 1-4 Manquillo
2020/21 lost 1-3 Saint-Maximin
2019/20 lost 1-4 M.Longstaff
2018/19 lost 2-3 Kenedy, Muto
2017/18 lost 1-4 Gayle
2015/16 drew 0-0
2014/15 lost 1-3 Cisse(pen)
2013/14 won 1-0 Cabaye
2012/13 lost 3-4 Perch, og(Evans), Cisse
2012/13 lost 1-2 Cisse (LC)
2011/12 drew 1-1 Ba(pen)
2010/11 lost 0-3
2008/09 drew 1-1 Martins
2007/08 lost 0-6
2006/07 lost 0-2
2005/06 lost 0-2
2004/05 lost 1-2 Ambrose
2003/04 drew 0-0
2002/03 lost 3-5 Bernard, Shearer, Bellamy
2001/02 lost 1-3 Shearer
2000/01 lost 0-2
1999/00 lost 1-5 og(Berg)
1998/99 drew 0-0
1997/98 drew 1-1 Andersson
1996/97 drew 0-0
1995/96 lost 0-2
1994/95 lost 0-2
1993/94 drew 1-1 Cole

Latest PL results:

Tue 14.05.2024:
Spurs 0-2 Manchester City

Wed 15.05.2024:
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Chelsea
Manchester United 3-2 Newcastle

Championship:
Whites at Wembley

Playoff results/fixtures:

Sun 12.05.2024:
Norwich City 0-0 Leeds United
West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Southampton

Thu 16.05.2024:
Leeds United 4-0 Norwich City (won 4-0 on agg)

Fri 17.05.2024:
Southampton v West Bromwich Albion (8pm)

Sun 26.05.2024:
Leeds United v tbc
Championship play-off final @ Wembley (KO tbc)

Leicester City winners - promoted.
Ipswich Town runners-up - promoted.

Update:
Ashley appeal: 
date confirmed 

Newcastle conclude their Premier League season in West London on Sunday, facing the Bees in a 4pm kick-off at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Team: Tino Livramento joins an absentee list that also includes Joe Willock, Lewis Miley, Matt Targett, Sandro Tonali, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

Callum Wilson is predicted to return after illness saw him miss the last two games against Brighton and Manchester United.

Coral rate this match as follows:

NUFC win 1/1
The draw 27/10
BFC win 19/10

New customers receive a £20 bet when staking £5 (T's & C's apply). Find those markets online here 

BFC: Rico Henry, Joshua Dasilva, Aaron Hickey and Ben Mee miss out, while Nathan Collins, Frank Onyeka and Neal Maupay are all provisionally available. 

Following thirteenth and ninth-place finishes in their first two PL campaigns, the Bees are assured of either fifteenth or sixteenth spot this time round.

It's assumed that Sunday will see Ivan Toney make his final appearance for Brentford. He's failed to score in his last 11 PL games but has three goals against Newcastle in four PL outings against his former club.

On home soil this season, Thomas Frank's side have won just five times, drawing seven games and losing the remaining six.

UK TV: None

Overseas TV: to follow

UK Radio: None (tbc)

Referee: Simon Hooper - third posting this season for the Wiltshire-based official, following on from the 4-1 PL home win over Chelsea and 0-2 FA Cup reverse at Manchester City.

VAR: Paul Tierney

Metro: services between South Hylton and Pelaw won't begin on Sunday until around 11.25am.

TfL: disruption updates online here

There's no Piccadilly Line tube service all weekend between Uxbridge and Acton Town.

Rail: disruption updates online here

Stats: 

Magpies @ Bees - all-time:

2023/24:
Second string
seal silverware 

Newcastle U21s  2  Blyth Town  1

Match action

Match report

2024/25:
Japan games confirmed

Confirmation of a pre-season games in Japan arrived from Newcastle United on Tuesday morning:

Wed 31.07.2024 Urawa Red Diamonds
@ Saitama Stadium (7.30pm local)

Sat 03.08.2024 Yokohama F Marinos
@ National Stadium, Toyko (7pm local)

Those two venues are around 25 miles apart, with Saitama holding just over 67,000 fans and the National Stadium accommodating slightly more.

The accompanying NUFC press release mentions additional matches to be confirmed in both Europe and the UK. The latter is set to include the Sela Cup at SJP over the weekend of 10.08.2024.

PS: NUFC are collecting details of season ticket holders and members interested in attending online here

Update:
Teenagers sign on

Following Monday's confirmation of a new long-term contract for 19 year-old defender Alex Murphy, two further Magpie prospects have been secured.

17 year-old duo Trevan Sanusi and Leo Shahar have been rewarded for promising debut seasons in black and white with their first professional deals.

Both England U17 internationals, winger Sanusi arrived from Birmingham City and full back Shahar left Wolves last summer, both catching the eye in United's U18 side and to the U21s.

Match action

Loan lads:
The borrowers 

Ryan Fraser (Southampton): 
West Bromwich Albion (h) Championship playoff semi-final second leg, Friday (0-0 after first leg).

Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord):
Excelsior Rotterdam (h) Eredivisie, Sunday.

Garang Kuol (Volendam):
Go Ahead Eagles (h) Eredivisie, Sunday.

Rodrigo Vilca (Vozdovac):
IMT Novi Beograd (a) Super Liga, Saturday.

With two games to play, Vozdovac remain outside the relegation spots on goal difference only.

Internationals:
Bruno in the USA

Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes is in the 23 man squad named by Brazil for this summer's Copa America finals in the USA, but there's no place for Joelinton.

He'll link up with his international colleagues for warm-up games against Mexico (08.06.2024) and the USA (12.06.2024) before Brazil play in Group D as follows:

24.06.2024 Costa Rica (Inglewood)
28.06.2024 Paraguay (Las Vegas)
02.07.2024 Colombia (Santa Clara)

Paraguay's squad is yet to be announced and is anticipated to include United's Miguel Almiron.

The final is in Miami on July 14th.

Old boys:
Hoyoots

Former Magpies recently released by their clubs:

Chris Basham (Sheffield United)
Ciaran Clark (Stoke City) 
Ryan Donaldson (Morpeth Town)
Shane Ferguson (Rotherham United)
Paul Huntington (Carlisle United)
Dan Langley (Oldham Athletic)
Michael Newberry (Linfield) (now joined Cliftonville)
Ben Pollock (Spennymoor Town)
Ben Tozer (Wrexham)

Moving on to coaches/managers:

Habib Beye (Red Star Paris)
Stephen Clemence (Gillingham)

2024/25:
Season tickets etc.

For those who haven't already done so as part of the long-term deals, season ticket renewals can now be made online here until 5pm on Monday May 20th.

Meanwhile, home cup ticket schemes for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup are also open now, with a closing date of 5pm on Friday June 21st. Remember that separate sign-ups are required for both.

Depending on our finishing place in the PL, a further home cup ticket scheme for European competition may become available.

Cup ticket prices are unchanged from 2023/24:

Carabao Cup: £20 & £25 adults / £10 & £15 others
FA Cup: £30 & £35 adults / £15 & £20 others

This season's ticket price increase was repeated for next season, raising adult prices by 5% and freezing junior prices. Full announcement online here

PS: The Magpie Mover matchday public transport ticket is again available to 2024/25 season ticket holders at an unchanged price of £25.