Diallo scores first league goal as Man Utd beat Newcastle to end losing run

Manchester United had their young stars to thank as they recorded a hard-fought 3-2 win over Newcastle United that takes the race for European football to the final day.

In a high-octane encounter where both sides threw caution to the wind, it was the home side who took the lead thanks to Kobbie Mainoo just after the half-hour, after Diallo darted infield looking to link with Bruno Fernandes.

The pass instead found Mainoo, unmarked and onside, in plenty of space, and the teenager stroked home into the corner.

Casemiro cleared a Dan Burn header off the line six minutes later as Newcastle threatened, and Eddie Howe’s Magpies started the second half the stronger, deservedly equalising through Anthony Gordon four minutes in.

A sloppy touch from Sofyan Amrabat was seized upon by Alexander Isak, who fed Jacob Murphy down the right. His cross was delivered perfectly for Gordon to tap home at the back post.

However, United were ahead again eight minutes later as a Fernandes corner was cleared by Murphy, but only into the path of Diallo, who lurked ominously on the edge of the area. The Ivorian struck powerfully, lashing home his first Premier League goal.

Rasmus Hojlund, dropped to the bench for this game, made an instant impact when called upon, taking just 104 seconds to score the third as he held off the attentions of Burn to arrow home with his right foot.

Lewis Hall’s sumptuous stunner in the second minute of stoppage time set up a nervy finish, but United held on to give under-fire Erik ten Hag a big three points and build momentum for a season-defining FA Cup final.

United’s future generation were their match-winners this evening, with all three of their goal scorers 21 years old or younger.

Ten Hag could have made the easy decision to play Hojlund – his only recognised striker – again despite the Dane’s obvious fatigue levels, and he could have fast-tracked the returning yet out-of-form Marcus Rashford back into the starting fray.

But no, he made just the one change to the side that fell 1-0 to Arsenal at the weekend, Hojlund dropping to the bench, and Fernandes as a free-roaming false nine.

It worked a charm, as Fernandes’ movement was a constant thorn in the side of the Newcastle backline, while Diallo was bright down the right against Hall, who has struggled for match fitness since his arrival from Chelsea.

Mainoo showed great composure with his opener and in midfield once more, and the debate will roar on as to whether he makes Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.

It seemed that with the security of Scott McTominay behind him – or alongside him in the first phase of the press – the Portuguese was liberated somewhat.

That ultimately meant that he could deliver his sparkling best, which he duly did, demonstrated by a plethora of delicious deliveries and intricate interplay.

He ran the show from false nine, and will have to play the talismanic figure once more if United are to trouble the European places.

Man Utd: Onana 7, Wan-Bissaka 6, Casemiro 7, Evans 6, Dalot 6, Amrabat 7, Mainoo 7, Diallo 7, McTominay 6, Garnacho 6, Fernandes 8. Subs: Hojund 7, Rashford 6, Martinez 6, Eriksen 6.

Newcastle: Dubravka 5, Trippier 5, Krafth 5, Burn 5, Hall 6, Longstaff 6, Guimaraes 6, Anderson 5, Murphy 6, Isak 6, Gordon 7. Subs: Barnes 6, Joelinton 6, Almiron 6, Schar 6.

31′: GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED (MAINOO) United are in front, and it’s their young midfield starlet who puts them in front. Amrabat finds Diallo to his right, and the Ivorian darts inside and looks to intricately link up with Fernandes. The ball evades the Portuguese but finds Mainoo in acres of space in the box. The flag stays down as the rusty Trippier keeps him onside, and he slots it away!

37′: NO GOAL! Murphy stands a cross up to the far post, and Burn towers at the far post to win the header, but it’s Casemiro hooking it clear off the line!

50′: GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (GORDON) But he scores this time! Newcastle are level, and it’s Anthony Gordon who’s got it. Amrabat miscontrols the pass and Isak seizes upon it, playing Murphy in down the right. His cross is perfectly weighted for Gordon to tap home at the far post.

58′: GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (DIALLO) Oh, what a goal! The delivery evades everybody in the middle, and he’s been free on the edge of the area all night, has Amad Diallo. Fernandes’ corner is nodded away by Murphy, but it diverts into the path of the Ivorian, who lashes it beyond Dubravka to record his first Premier League goal.

84′: GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED (HOJLUND) That’s what he does, and that’s what they can do. Rasmus Hojlund has an instant impact, and shows just what he’s capable of. United have been lacking his presence up top, and he takes the ball confidently on the edge of the area, before holding off Dan Burn, who tugs at him. He works an inch of space to strike with his right, and it arrows into the far corner for his ninth of the campaign.

90+2′: GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2 NEWCASTLE UNITED (HALL) What a goal! Lewis Hall curls an absolute beauty from the edge of the area into the far corner following the clearance of a corner. A grand stand finish here!