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It was a fast start to the game, as both teams searched for an early goal. Romelu Lukaku smashed a shot over the bar after Antonio Valencia burst down the right hand side, before Newcastle's Ciaran Clark headed high and wide after meeting Jonjo Shelvey's corner.
Manchester United had much of the possession as anticipated, but it was the away side that were getting into the better attacking positions and they did take the lead through Dwight Gayle. DeAndre Yedlin showed excellent pace to get down the right, and pulled a cross back for Gayle, who slotted calmly into the far corner. 0-1.
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The lead was almost doubled moments later when Shelvey picked a brilliant pass to play in Jacob Murphy, but the youngster pulled his shot inches wide of David De Gea's far post.
The hosts began to get a stranglehold of the game, and come close to levelling matters when Lukaku met Victor Lindelof's cross, but the Belgian could only head over.
Newcastle tried to hang onto their lead, but the dominance did pay off eventually, and it was the returning Paul Pogba who was at the heart of their equaliser. The Frenchman toyed with Isaac Hayden on the edge of the box, before picking out Anthony Martial with a brilliant cross. His countryman made no mistake with his header. 1-1.
After that, the home side really began to control the game, and they turned the game on its head just before half time. Ashley Young did brilliantly to deliver a cross, and it was met by Chris Smalling, who headed past Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal. 2-1.
The Magpies come very close to an equaliser of their own very late in the half. Matt Ritchie and Javier Manquillo worked well to play in Hayden, who cut back onto his right-foot, but could not beat De Gea from close range. Gayle then diverted the ball wide seconds later.
Manchester United raced out of the blocks at the start of the second half, and they almost extended their lead, but Martial slipped at the decisive moment.
The third goal did arrive though. Newcastle left themselves open at the back, and Lukaku was able to get down the right and pick out Marcus Rashford, who laid it on a plate for Pogba, and he slotted home. 3-1.
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Newcastle seemed to totally lose their way after that, but they did have a half chance to reduce the deficit. Murphy broke free and curled a shot towards the top right corner, but again De Gea made the save.
Three became four and any chances of Newcastle getting back into the game were killed off. Florian Lejeune failed to clear as Lukaku charged in and the former Everton man buried the ball into the top corner. 4-1. Game over.
Shelvey looked to put some gloss on the scoreline for his side with ten minutes to go, but his shot curled wide of the right post. Unlucky.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his return for the Red Devils, and he almost got himself on the scoresheet, in spectacular style. The Swede found himself in acres of space on the left, and attempted a bicycle kick, which Rob Elliot had to push around the post.
Rolando Aarons dragged a shot wide from the left towards the end, but the game lacked any real energy after the fourth goal went in.
A day that began so well with that early goal, ultimately ended how everybody expected it to. Newcastle had no chance today at Old Trafford, and it all comes back to the mistakes made in the summer. The takeover cannot come quickly enough.