Young's late winner earns Manchester United three vital points

         Ashley Young's first goal of the season was a vital winner for Manchester United.

NEWCASTLE, England -- Three thoughts on Manchester United's 1-0 win vs. Newcastle in the Premier League. 

1. Young's decisive late strike 

"Attack, attack, attack," implored visiting Manchester United fans as the game wore on. Their side had been ponderous and punchless against a determined Newcastle effort, supplying another antiseptic display, while their rivals for a top four finish were all winning. Liverpool were set to draw level on points, with the

Merseysiders in infinitely richer form than their famous rivals.

Then, with one minute remaining, came a moment of Wayne Rooney doggedness and some disastrous Newcastle defending, which culminated in goalkeeper Tim Krul clearing only to Ashley Young, who poked into an empty net. It was harsh on Newcastle, but Louis van Gaal's good luck holds and there was even the rare sight of United's manager on the sidelines as he organised his players during the last few seconds, after which his club could breathe a sigh of relief.

    2. Carver's counter fails 

Interim Newcastle manager John Carver is seeking the approval of Newcastle's fans. He is a Geordie, but not many are convinced of his managerial credentials and, though Jose Mourinho may have expressed his approval of Carver, he still has the look of the temporary appointment he is.

Former Lyon boss Remi Garde and Thomas Tuchel, once of Mainz, are tipped to take over in the summer, after Newcastle see out a season in which relegation has not threatened, though neither has progression. Life post-Alan Pardew has been purgatorial.

A chance for an early goal was lost when Chris Smalling clumsily upended Emmanuel Riviere in the penalty box. Referee Taylor waved protests away and Smalling angrily called out the French forward for a dive. The official and the defender were in the wrong.

With the visitors enjoying their expected dominance of possession, the counter was the chief weapon for the home side, though having Moussa Sissoko deep in midfield blunted it somewhat.

Few Premier League players carry the ball at such pacy menace and, when the Frenchamn robbed Di Maria in the last minute of the first half, he had defenders back-pedalling in his wake, before David De Gea had to make a scrambling stop of Riviere's resultant shot. A better Newcastle chance came after the break when Ayoze Perez won possession on the halfway line and set up a chance for Cisse that the Senegalese striker squirted wide.

Infinitely more positive was the return of Jonas Gutierrez. Carver smiled as he broke the good news to the Argentinian, back as a Newcastle player for the first time after recovering from testicular cancer.

A standing ovation greeted the Argentine, as did Fabricio Coloccini, who passed over the captain's armband to his compatriot. When referee Anthony Taylor, already in the Geordie bad books, gave Jonas a yellow card for a foul on Adnan Januzaj, he was roundly booed.

 

Jonas Gutierrez made his first appearance since April 2014.

Infinitely more positive was the return of Jonas Gutierrez. Newcastle manager John Carver smiled as he broke the good news to the Argentinian, back as a Newcastle player for the first time after recovering from testicular cancer.

A standing ovation greeted the Argentine, as did Fabricio Coloccini, who passed over the captain's armband to his compatriot. When referee Anthony Taylor, already in the Geordie bad books, gave Jonas a yellow card for a foul on Adnan Januzaj, he was roundly booed.

There was sound enough sense to Carver's gameplan and, while a positive result  might have improved his popularity, there should be local sympathy for the manner of defeat.

3. Man United keep the brakes on

Morning speculation over Radamel Falcao's Man United future suggested that any chance of an extended stay for the Colombian was already nixed, though this was later denied by club operatives. Instead, it is said, May will be decision time, though beginning on the bench on Wednesday reduced his avenue of opportunity. Beyond St James' Park there are just 10 Premier League games in which to audition, as well as an FA Cup run that may well be stopped by Arsenal next Monday.

With Robin van Persie out injured and Falcao benched, it meant that Rooney was given the chance to play as a lone striker. Two goals against Sunderland last weekend had suggested that his shooting boots had been located but he had a frustrating night in front of goal. 

An early dart and pass to Angel Di Maria, who would last less than an hour before being substituted, suggested Rooney had not forgotten the forward's art, though the lack of a return pass clearly exasperated him. Not that Rooney's instinct to drop deeper has been curbed. At times, United played as if without a frontman, with either Fellaini or Di Maria the furthest forward, though a first-half chance saw Rooney onside, before he missed the target terribly.

One of Van Gaal's team's greatest problems has been a reluctance to overload opponents in the attacking third. Or is it an inability? This is still a unit of clunking malfunctions and a desperate lack of flow. The manager's latest formation fiddling saw his team line up with what looked a 4-2-3-1, with Fellaini as some kind of No. 10, though hardly in the mould of Juan Roman Riquelme.

Van Gaal often complains that his team begin matches playing like their opposition, though that surely owes much to the compositions he chooses. It says much when purported pragmatists like Alan Pardew and Sam Allardyce roll the dice more. Even with Falcao on the bench, United had an array of attacking talent to be envied. Still, as ever, the handbrake remained tightly on and yet, somehow, it worked.