Newcastle provide hope for season ahead as Carrick’s biggest Man Utd problems become clear
· Yahoo Sports
So much can change in a year, and yet sometimes nothing changes at all. Just ask Eddie Howe, who is now fresh off the back of yet another home win against Manchester United that will provoke mixed feelings about the season Newcastle United have produced.
This victory might be the sweetest of all, a controversial Jacob Ramsey red card meaning the hosts had it all to do but a magnificent William Osula winner meaning it goes down as one of the great nights at St James’ Park.
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But while a fourth home win in a row against United is a result that underlines the Magpies’ recent dominance in this fixture, the contrast to just under a year ago is a sobering one for Howe.
Newcastle’s 4-1 win over United in April 2025 underlined the Magpies’ status as one of the league’s most exciting sides, Howe’s men approaching a return to Champions League football and a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League. But fast forward to March 2026, and while a win that will probably be even more enjoyable for home fans gives the Magpies hope, they sit in 12th, 12 points behind this evening’s adversaries.
Osula’s winner sparked bedlam at a buoyant St James’ Park (Action Images via Reuters)It’s a contrast that is bittersweet for Howe, who has achieved so much success on Tyneside but will feel like this season has been a backwards step (so far at least). And with potential for notable exits – as was the case last summer – he might find himself with another mountain to climb depending on what the club can do in the transfer market.
Nevertheless, the Englishman is still one of the league’s best at getting big results out of his side, as evidenced by a display that clearly outlined the deficiencies in his opponents on the evening.
While poor refereeing once again threatened to define a high-profile Premier League match – referee Peter Bankes sending off Jacob Ramsey after deciding that the winger had dived to try and win a penalty – it was a mix of Howe’s gameplan and 10 willing and capable players who ended up deciding the game.
Ramsey was given a second yellow for simulation near the end of the first half (Getty Images)They were given a huge boost when a silly Bruno Fernandes tackle gave them a clear penalty that was dispatched by Anthony Gordon, though it was soon level as Casemiro headed in the equaliser with essentially the last kick of the half.
Half-time was welcomed by a cacophony of boos, with an overwhelming feeling of injustice felt in the stands as both sides went down the tunnel level (the red card may have been more of a headline if Osula had not fired in a winner, as the question remains as to why such a game-changing event was ever regarded as outside the parameters for a VAR check).
But while VAR could play no part here, it was such a controversial decision that it almost felt it needed repaying with some luck, as if some sort of karmic debt was now owed to the hosts.
However, in the end Newcastle needed little luck and created much of their own, a great reaction stop from Aaron Ramsdale keeping out Leny Yoro and another good save stopping a long-range Joshua Zirkzee effort.
Gordon slotted home coolly moments after Ramsey was sent off (Getty Images)The Magpies were resolute in defence, energetic in midfield and picked the time to try and strike back, though for a brief period there was little in the way of clear-cut chances as the visitors looked to press home their one-man advantage.
However, despite having numerical superiority, the visitors struggled to create notable chances, often limited on the wings and occasionally overrun in midfield.
Carrick’s side have now played in three matches where the opponent has received a red card, and two in a row after Maxence Lacroix was sent off in last week’s win over Crystal Palace. While they earned the win in the end last week, they struggled at times at Old Trafford and those same deficiencies were on show again here, a lack of athleticism in midfield a glaring issue and the lack of threat from wide areas meaning they struggled to benefit from their one-man advantage.
It is a problem that hindered the team two-fold at St James’, and while it is not necessarily Carrick’s job to fix it, it does illustrate the importance of the club making astute signings in the summer window once again, both in terms of recruiting alternative options and some key starting players.
Even if the return of 19 points in eight games makes for good reading for the club after Carrick’s return, there are obvious issues that still need sorting, with United having produced lacklustre performances against West Ham, Everton and Palace before this objectively poor result at St James’.
Osula’s goal takes the Magpies to 12th, while United remain in third (Getty Images)In the end, Newcastle took advantage of the visitors’ inability to find the final blow, Osula picking the perfect time to strike as he collected the ball on the counter and cut in from the right win before curling a magnificent effort into the far corner, leaving Lammens no chance.
For Newcastle, it was a goal that reminded everyone of what Howe can and has achieved with this Newcastle side, but one that reminded him that there will be regrets about how this season has gone so far, even if there is still time to achieve more than ever before.
For the other United, it was a goal that brought them back down to earth. While they have come on leaps and bounds since that 4-1 loss in April 2025, once again it’s an evening game at St James’ Park that provides a reminder that there is plenty to do yet if the Old Trafford hierarchy want to build a side capable of challenging for the major honours.