Absolute madness at St James’ Park! – Newcastle 2-1 Man Utd

In a match that featured a ridiculous Jacob Ramsey red card for two ‘bookable offences’, more awful refereeing, another Anthony Gordon penalty and stoppage time goals in each half, we performed brilliantly considering it was 10 against 11 for much of the match: or 10 against 12 if you count match official Peter Bankes!

It’s a win that keeps our hopes of European qualification alive, keeping us five points behind Brentford seventh, a win that has to give the players renewed belief, a win that ends our run of defeats on Tyneside and a win that ends Man Utd’s unbeaten run under Michael Carrick, seeing us kick off March with a huge three points right when Eddie Howe needed them.

Howe made two changes for this one, seeing Aaron Ramsdale and Harvey Barnes replace a Nick Pope (dropped) and Nick Woltemade (ill), with Joelinton dropping back into midfield and Gordon starting in a No. 9 role again.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale – Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Ramsey, Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes

Subs: Pope, Botman, Wissa, Osula, J.Murphy, A.Murphy, Willock, Shahar, Neave

Man Utd XI: Lammens – Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro, Shaw – Mainoo, Casemiro – Cunha, Fernandes, Mbeumo – Sesko

We made a fast start and looked bang up for it, playing with energy, urgency in attack and desire to win the ball back for much of the first 45 minutes. Joelinton set the tone from the off with his drive and determination, and others followed suit. There was a good look to our play and a feeling in the air that this might just be one of those big nights: but we needed to make that count with a goal.

A floated cross hit the post early on, Hall and Elanga volleyed off target, Barnes curled wide and Joelinton also smashed over. At the other end, Mainoo forced Ramsdale into a smart stop, although our on loan goalkeeper got away with one moments later, palming Cunha’s shot straight to Mbeumo, who somehow fired over.

Then came the chaos and some absolutely woeful refereeing. After a flurry of yellow cards, Ramsey picked up his second booking for ‘diving’ in first half added time, yet replays showed he did not call for a penalty and instead seemed to get his studs caught in the turf as he jumped beyond Lammens. 

A huge feeling of injustice in a first 45 Bankes seemed intent on ruining, yet we (finally) got a decision our way moments later, and it was a big one. Gordon was brought down and he did the rest from the spot deep in first half stoppage time, only for the referee to gift Man Utd an equaliser.

Despite three minutes of added time being signalled, a soft Hall foul, Fernandes free kick and 54th minute header from Casemiro made it 1-1. Where on earth did they get nine minutes from?! A Man Utd fan at Stockley Park?! Baffling, but we’d soon right those wrongs in a big second half.

Howe mixed it up by bringing on Joe Willock. He replaced Barnes, who hadn’t offered a great deal down our left, and we set up in more of a 4-3-2 for much of the second period, with Willock, Joelinton and Tonali forming a midfield three behind a front two of Gordon and Elanga.

For much of the second 45, Man Utd didn’t look like a side with the man advantage. Whether that was down to our will, organisation and Howe’s smart tactics, or Man Utd’s lack of spark is open to debate, but we looked relatively comfortable, even if that frustration lingered that we were a man down and level at 1-1 in a game we really had to win.

Chances were at a premium. Gordon peeled off from a smart corner routine and poked wide, then Ramsdale stepped up with two massive saves, first stopping Yoro’s point-blank header before and acrobatic stop to tip Zirkzee’s goal-bound strike over the bar.

Then came the change that would swing the match back in our favour, just as we were starting to tire. Gordon and Elanga came off, and on came Will Osula and Jacob Murphy. And you know the rest. Just before nine minutes of added time was signalled, Osula did this…

Clock ticking down.

Scores level.

Defenders to beat.

Step forward, Will Osula 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/IkAU1DCxp6

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) March 5, 2026

A lightning break down the line, a quick step over to cut inside and a stunning strike with his left foot that curled into that far corner at pace, creating unforgettable limbs in the Gallowgate and that St James’ Park euphoria we haven’t felt for a while!

What a goal, what a win, and what an effort from the players. Joelinton set the tone, Tonali was relentless, Ramsdale stepped up with some massive saves to keep it at 1-1, Trippier recovered superbly after a rough start and Osula delivered the goods, becoming the first Newcastle striker to score a Premier League goal in 2026 at the 10th attempt.

Huge credit must go to Howe, too. We looked far better from the off, our attitude was bang on all night, each of his changes worked and our set up in the second half struck just the right balance, remaining aggressive and competitive to stop Man Utd making the man advantage count.

Next up, we welcome Man City to St James’ Park on Saturday night in the FA Cup fifth round, followed by a Champions League clash with Barcelona next Tuesday. Two tough tests to put it mildly, but this is what we asked for and the belief should be high after such a big win.

Keep the faith. Howay the lads!