Hardly the Theatre of Dreams, more a hell hole nightmare.

December has been terrible for Manchester United, losing five matches and four on the trot. The last time that happened was way back in 1962.

Newcastle visited Old Trafford on Monday night, once an impregnable citadel of world football.

Manchester United’s new manager Ruben Amorim was looking to reverse recent losses and end the year on a positive note.

It was not to be.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are bang in form and took it to Manchester United from the get-go. When Alexander Isak headed a goal in the fourth minute, one got the impression it was going to be a long and testing evening for Manchester United. The Swede is valued at 100 million pounds and is on fire this season.

Joelinton compounded United’s misery making it 2-0 in the 19th minute. Newcastle was off to the races and one got the impression more goals were to come. It was wave after wave of attacks with a lively Anthony Gordon providing accurate crosses and pin-point passes that put Manchester United on the Blackfoot. Gordon was doing an Eriksen on United—such irony! 

Manchester United has struggled to score with potent strikers nowhere to be seen. A couple of seasons ago, Marcus Rashford was touted as one of the best strikers in the EPL; now he can’t get a sniff of a goal and has been relegated by the new manager to the role of an onlooker unable to make the team.

He was overlooked again, favoured by Joshua Zirkzee who got hooked in the 33rd minute with boos ringing in his ears. It was embarrassing. His manager had no faith in the Dutchman and replaced him with Kobbie Mainoo.

Come the second half, Newcastle began brightly continuing to pile on the pressure with Harry Maguire and Casimiro given a torrid time. Bruno Guiimares was a warrior for Newcastle and the away fans chanted his name. He had both Dalot and Amad in his pocket.

Amorim brought on Anthony to spark things up. Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon had a good game. It was unfortunate that he got substituted.

The second 45 minutes was all about game management for Newcastle who took their foot off United’s neck. The Red Devils were thoroughly beaten and the score line flattered them. They now languish in 14th position in the EPL table.

Some say on this current form and having conceded 23 goals in December alone, they will most likely be in a relegation battle. That is a tad harsh. More likely they will end up mid-table around 11th or 12th, missing out on European spots. Unthinkable for a once mighty force in the game.

This team has to be rebuilt and the task is proving more difficult than Ruben Amorim anticipated. He needs to put in a call to Sir Alex Ferguson and get the secret recipe.

Newcastle have now won their last five games and are fifth in the table, challenging for Champions League positions.  Eddie Howe has staged a remarkable recovery so far this season proving he is one of the best young English managers in world football.

Of the game, Newcastle’s Joelinton reflected, “There’s still a long way to go but the team is improving. A good performance away from home today, three points, two goals, clean sheet. Great mentality from the boys from start to finish to defend our goal and score two to win the game.

“Belief is high. We started really well and scored the two goals, we could have scored more but didn’t and then we lost a bit of control. At the end, the most important thing is the three points and job done.

“Alexander Isak is amazing. It is so good to have him and to play alongside him because he is one of the best strikers in the world right now and I hope he continues scoring goals and playing amazing because it is good for us.”