ANTHONY GORDON will never show a greater sense of timing in his life… twice in the same game.
Firstly with his Johnny-on-the-spot arrival at the far post to sweep in the goal which ensured Newcastle got the outcome their dominance merited last night.
But on the day England discovered their Euro opponents, another timely tap on Gareth Southgate’s shoulder as to why he has to be a part of it.
On a night when Marcus Rashford – in England’s last squad at the Toon star’s expense – sulked and stumbled his way through another miserable display, Gordon was the difference at St James’ Park.
To be fair, he shouldn’t have been. There should have been way more daylight than merely Gordon’s 55th minute finish, from a laser-like Kieran Trippier cross.
If it hadn’t been for a centre back masterclass from Harry Maguire and, to a lesser extent, Luke Shaw, there certainly would have been as well.
Yet it only takes one goal to win three points, and after the week Newcastle have endured – and a casualty list still in double figures – it will be more than enough for Eddie Howe.
Although if any side looked out on their feet here, it was the United in red, not black and white, as the Toon tore at them from the off…and never really slowed up.
Given a little more fortune, they would have been out of sight by the break, as Erik ten Hag’s men somehow clung on.
Closest call of all was a superb Kieran Trippier free kick, which on another day would have struck the underside of the bar and gone in, rather than bounced up and away from goal.
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So, too, would the shot from Alexander Isak, which instead of nestling in the corner, clipped Maguire’s heel and fizzed inches wide.
Jamal Lascelles headed another gilt-edged chance over the top and keeper Andre Onana got down smartly to block a Joelinton side footer.
Ten Hag had vowed to stick with his calamity Cameroonian, despite plenty calling for the axe after his latest cock-ups in Istanbul in midweek.
Two Galatasaray goals – some would argue all three – were down to the African stopper’s errors. They will, barring a miracle, mean a group stage exit for United.
Manager ten Hag, it seems, is just about the only one who hasn’t lost faith in Onana. Insisting, in fact, that Opta data proves his keeper is actually the second best in the Prem.
If that’s what Ten Hag believes about his keeper, it would be interesting to hear his views on JFK’s shooting and the moon landings, but back to more immediate business.
Which in United’s case was a backs to the wall battle to keep out the Toon from the off…and riding their luck more than once to do so.
Never a dull moment when it comes to the United defence…although with more of a stand-up comedy feel than an action hero one. Maguire apart, at least.
For long periods the Reds were clinging on. Trying their damnedest to take the sting out of it by slowing things down.
How ironic was that, incidentally, given the fuss Ten Hag made in claiming the Toon were guilty of doing exactly the same ahead of last year’s Carabao Cup final meeting.
United were slow in most departments, in fact. Certainly second best behind a Toon side chasing a third straight win against them for the first time since 1922.
To be honest, if it hadn’t been for Maguire, they’d probably have managed it at a canter, as well.
The Reds may have been heavy-legged and headless in most parts, but their centre back is certainly riding the wave right now. Arguably his best form in four years at the club, in fact.
A block here, a towering header there, and an in-the-nick-of-time tackle or intervention just about everywhere in between.
He even came within a linesman’s flag of a late, albeit unmerited, leveller when Antony’s volley flew in off his stomach, yet he was clearly a yard offside.
By then keeper Martin Dubravka was in goal for the Toon, after Pope popped his shoulder diving to block a Sergio Reguilon drive…and Fabian Schar did it for him in any case.
No-one bar Shaw came close to matching Maguire for a hold-your-head-up display. Rashford and Antony Martial certainly didn’t.
Indeed, the only passion we saw all night from Martial was a petulant arm-in-the-air reaction to his manager, after getting bellowed at in frustration.
A storm in a teacup and playground spat it may have been, but can you imagine anyone in a Red shirt either doing that or getting away it with Fergie in the dugout?
Mind you, when he was ruling the roost, you can’t imagine many of these getting within a mile of his team in the first place.
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