Newcastle United returned to third in the Premier League for the first time in two months following Sunday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United.
Joe Willock and Callum Wilson scored the goals as the Magpies eased past the Red Devils at St James’ Park on Sunday to get revenge for the League Cup final.
In doing so, they nudged their opponents back down to fourth, and Erik ten Hag’s side will slip to fifth if Tottenham avoid defeat at Everton on Monday night.
Victory in the grudge match was a vital result in the race for the top four spots, which guarantee European qualification for next season.
Here, Sportsmail‘s CRAIG HOPE argues why Newcastle will finish above Manchester United this season and, with it, qualify for the Champions League…
Newcastle United defeated Manchester United 2-0 at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon
It was a joyous day for the Magpies and manager Eddie Howe (pictured) – below, Sportsmail reporter Craig Hope argues why the Red Devils will finish below Newcastle this campaign
CHARACTER…
Newcastle can lose games, but would never do so in the manner of Manchester United here. Not since the days of Steve Bruce has there been talk of dressing-room inquests and opponents ‘wanting it more’.
Those, however, were the revelations emerging from the visiting camp on Sunday. Luke Shaw said words had been exchanged among the players, while Ten Hag agreed with his defender’s assessment of Newcastle showing more desire.
Newcastle have lost three times in the Premier League this season – twice to Liverpool and once to Manchester City – but their application has never been questioned.
Commitment and work-rate are non-negotiable under Eddie Howe and the victorious post-match squad pictures, for which they have received criticism at times, are more so about a bigger picture of unity.
As they showed during the entirety of 2022, when such spirit gathers momentum it difficult to stop and three straight wins have restored belief at just the right time. Manchester, by contrast, played like strangers, again.
This is three league games on the spin without a goal, a run which began with the 7-0 defeat at Liverpool.
To see their players slope off towards the tunnel on full-time – only to be hauled back to applaud the visiting fans – was to witness a flawed and fragile mentality, and one that continues to show itself despite talk of progress under Ten Hag.
Such sentiment feels increasingly confused. There is only one of these teams United…