Newcastle teenager Matthew Longstaff added to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s problems as he marked his Premier League debut with the superb strike that sealed a shock 1-0 win over woeful Manchester United on Sunday.
Solskjaer’s side paid the price for their latest lethargic display as Longstaff bagged his first goal for Newcastle in the second half at St James’ Park.
United are languishing just two points above the relegation zone in 12th place after their third successive league game without a win.
This was a wretched display from United, especially given the paucity of the opposition provided by a Newcastle team who had fared even worse in the opening weeks of the season.
Alarmingly, United’s only victory in their last five matches in all competitions came on penalties against minnows Rochdale in the League Cup.
While it is surely too soon for Solskjaer to face the sack, the beleaguered United manager goes into the international break knowing results must improve quickly.
United haven’t won away from Old Trafford since beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in March.
They are winless in eight consecutive top-flight away fixtures for the first time since a run of 11 from February to September 1989.
Their haul of nine points after eight games is their worst tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since the dark days of 1989.
Newcastle are only one point behind United after their second win in nine matches in all competitions this season.
In his 400th game as a Premier League manager, Magpies boss Steve Bruce ended a run of 21 games without a win against the club he served with distinction as a player.
Those United glory days seem a distant memory now and their travelling fans were quick to show their frustration as they called for owners the Glazer family to sell up.
