By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At Old Trafford

 

Manchester United 0

Newcastle United 0

Newcastle United recorded their first clean sheet of the season with a superb goalless draw at Manchester United on Saturday.

The Magpies were under pressure for long periods of the Barclays Premier League fixture at Old Trafford but put in an outstanding defensive display to keep the hosts at bay.

Manchester United enjoyed the lion's share of possession but were unable to turn that dominance into goals, with Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Memphis Depay, Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling all spurning good opportunities to break the deadlock.

But it was far from a one-side affair, as Steve McClaren's new-look Newcastle created chances of their own, with full debutant Aleksandar Mitrovic crashing a header against the woodwork, Ayoze Perez twice forcing saves from Sergio Romero, and Florian Thauvin inches away from a debut goal.

The visitors were excellent all over the pitch, but special credit should go to goalkeeper Tim Krul and centre-backs Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini, who put their bodies on the line time and time again to ensure that Newcastle returned to Tyneside with a share of the spoils.

 

The hosts roared out of the traps and captain Wayne Rooney thought he had slotted them ahead with less than four minutes on the clock.

However, having strayed narrowly the wrong side of the Magpies' rearguard,  the raised assitant's flag curtailed his joy at sidefooting past goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Soon after, Rooney drove straight at Krul from distance, while Mata's 20-yard free-kick was comfortable enough for the stopper to gather.

Newcastle were struggling to get out of their half as the Red Devils' pressure continued, and Krul was forced to make an outstanding save in the 15th minute.

Mata cut inside off the right flank and pulled the trigger with a low left-footed strike that was sneaking in at the near post. But Krul had other ideas, getting down brilliantly to make a fine one-handed save and keep his side on terms.

The Magpies weathered the storm and started to impose themselves on proceedings, coming within inches of breaking the deadlock on 24 minutes.

When Chancel Mbemba picked up the ball wide on the right there appeared little on, but the defender - deployed at full-back in the absence of Daryl Janmaat - swung a superb delivery into the penalty area where Mitrovic, rising high above Matteo Darmian, crashed a header against the crossbar from 12 yards.

And as half-time approached Newcastle threatened again, this time through Perez.

Pressure from Georginio Wijnaldum forced a hurried clearance from Chris Smalling, and when the ball eventually landed at the feet of Perez on the edge of the area, the Spaniard's first-time strike was heading in until the intervention of Sergio Romero's fingertips.

Manhester United went on the offensive again at the start of the second half but, again, the Newcastle defence held firm, with the hosts' only chance of note in the early exchanges coming via Depay, who slammed a free-kick straight into the wall.

Just past the hour mark, Chris Smalling met Mata's deep corner but, under pressure from Coloccini, was unable to get a true connection and the visitors cleared their lines.

Florian Thauvin was introduced for his Newcastle debut in the 69th minute, replacing Gabriel Obertan, and immediately showed his class, tricking his way past Luke Shaw, who duly fouled the new signing and went into referee Craig Pawson's notebook.

Shaw almost redeemed himself soon after with a driving run off the left touchline, in which he skipped away from Thauvin, exchanged passes with Morgan Schneiderlin but found Krul in the way of his low drive.

And Krul saved his best stop of the afternoon for the 80th minute. When Mata's shot was blocked by Taylor, the ball fell into the path of substitute Hernandez 12 yards out.

The Red Devils' front man took a touch and attempted to place a shot into the far corner, only for Krul to brilliantly stick out a leg and divert away to safety. It was an outstanding save which typified Newcastle's resilience and never-say-die attitude.

As the game ticked into added-on time, both sides came agonisingly close to snatching all three points.

First, Smalling planted a downward header against the foot of the post from Depay's corner, and Newcastle promptly broke at pace, with Thauvin inches away from connecting with Papiss Cisse's centre, as he slid across the six-yard box.

And that was the end of the action, as the Magpies held firm to record their second point of the season and first clean sheet.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Sergio Romero; Matteo Darmian (Antonio Valencia 77), Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw; Bastian Schweinsteiger (Michael Carrick 58), Morgan Schneiderlin; Juan Mata, Adnan Januzaj (Javier Hernandez 67), Memphis Depay; Wayne Rooney (c)

 

Subs not used: Sam Johnstone, Paddy McNair, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young

 

 

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Chancel Mbemba, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback; Ayoze Perez (Cheick Tiote 77), Georginio Wijnaldum, Gabriel Obertan (Florian Thauvin 69); Aleksandar Mitrovic (Papiss Cisse 88)

 

Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Mike Williamson, Siem de Jong, Rolando Aarons

 

 

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Bookings: Manchester United - Darmian (19), Shaw (70); Newcastle United - Haidara (20), Obertan (57)

Attendance: 75,354 (1,800 Newcastle)