Matt Richie’s 65th minute strike was enough to earn Newcastle United all three points and take the club out of relegation zone.
Beating Manchester United who had lost just once in their last five games seemed like asking too much from a Newcastle side that languished at 18th position prior to kick-off. It however turned out to be one of those days where a lone goal will be the decider in a game that had very few scoring opportunities.
Matt Ritchie who had not scored all season pounced on a loose ball and fired beyond De Gea who could do little or nothing to stop it.
Benitez’s side has endured a torrid season having to deal with lack of reinforcements during the transfer window and flirting with the possibility of an immediate return to championship football. But all that didn’t seem to matter when Ritchie put his foot to the ball. A
lthough Manchester United almost drew level deep in stoppage time, fantastic defending and brilliant goalkeeping enabled Newcastle to hold on and keep all maximum points.
