Ashley Young secures United dramatic win at Newcastle

Ashley Young scored a late winner as Manchester United beat Newcastle United 1-0 at St. James' Park.

With time running out, and their rivals winning elsewhere, United looked to have ran out of ideas, but Young popped up after an error from Tim Krul to score a last gasp winner.

Wayne Rooney deserves a great deal of credit for tirelessly forcing the error, but Krul’s woeful clearance went straight to Young, who remained composed to snatch all three points.

United had chances in the opening 45 minutes, with Rooney guilty of missing a glorious chance when clean through on goal.

The main talking point of the first half however was an unsavoury incident as Papiss Cisse and Jonny Evans were involved in an altercation, with both players looking like they spat at each other.

The chances continued to come for Louis van Gaal’s men after the break, with Krul at his best to make a superb double save from Marouane Fellaini and then Young on the rebound.

Again Angel di Maria was substituted, but despite the fortunate circumstances, this is United’s third win on the bounce at St James’ Park, and arguably the most vital in that run.

10’ - NO PENALTY! Huge shouts from the St James' Park terraces as Emmanuel Riviere goes down under challenge from Chris Smalling. Referee Anthony Taylor is having none of it. Replays show that there was contact, but nothing given.

26’ - WHAT A MISS! Huge opportunity for Rooney. Great touch from Young kills the ball into the path of the England captain, but with the flag staying down, he drags the shot wide from the penalty spot. Time seemed to stand still with everyone expecting the flag. Right call, but Rooney should have buried that

44’ - SAVE! Fellaini gets up well at the back post too meet a Valencia cross, but Krul is equal to it, and beats the ball away. Needed more power.

48' - SAVE! Save of the match from David de Gea. Riviere looks destined to score at the back post, but his toe-poke from close range is clawed away by the Spaniard.

54’ - DOUBLE SAVE! How has Krul kept the scores level!?! Marouane Fellaini is onside, brings the ball down, lashes it at goal, but Krul somehow gets a hand to it to keep hit out, and then has the energy to get up quickly to thwart Young on the rebound. Stunning from a 'keeper Van Gaal knows all too well.

64’ - What a moment! Jonas Gutierrez is coming on. This is his first appearance since recovering from testicular cancer. He replaces Ryan Taylor. What an ovation. Roof is coming off! Very emotional scenes.

89' - GOAL! Newcastle 0 Manchester United 1. The scrappiest of goals gifts United a massive three points! Krul made a mess of a clearance, and Young was on hand to side foot home to snatch a vital win for the visitors.

Manchester United have not turned a draw into a victory this late in a Premier League match since they beat Newcastle 4-3 on Boxing Day 2012. Javier Hernández scored the 90th minute winner.

United have now beaten Newcastle three times in a row at St. James Park without conceding a single goal for the first time in top flight history.

Ashley Young has scored his first Premier League goal for 400 days.

Can Manchester United finish in the top four? United certainly deserved the win, but it was another lacklustre attacking display from Louis van Gaal’s men. With some difficult fixtures to come, including Tottenham and Liverpool in their next two league games, can they find the form they need to return to the Champions League next season? Can Angel di Maria show anything like the form we know he is capable of to help United compete amongst Europe’s elite once again?

Wayne Rooney: Close between him and David de Gea, who again made a number of fine saves, but the England captain once again ran his socks off and that tenacity forced Tim Krul into a mistake which led to the winner. Starved of service up front, Rooney had to make his own chances, and never gave up.

Newcastle: Krul 7, Janmaat 6, Coloccini 7, Williamson 7, R.Taylor 6, Obertan 5, Sissoko 6, Abeid 5, Ameobi 5, Riviere 7, Cisse 6. Subs: Gutierrez 6, Gouffran 5, Perez 6.

Man Utd: De Gea 8, Valencia 6, Smalling 6, Evans 6, Rojo 7, Blind 7, Herrera 6, Young 7, Di Maria 5, Rooney 8, Fellaini 5. Subs: Mata 6, Januzaj 6, Carrick 5.