Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League match vs Newcastle. (PHOTO: AP)
Manchester United went back to winning ways as they beat Newcastle United 1-0 in the Premier League match at the Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday for their eighth win of the season, moving up to fifth place with 29 points. It was United’s first clean sheet in 10 games, with the last coming on Senne Lammens’ debut in the 2-0 win over Sunderland. Former Irish footballer Roy Keane called the victory an ugly but a big win for the Reds.
Speaking after the game, Keane said: “We have seen a big win for Man Utd. To come out and win an ugly game, specifically from a defensive point of view, keeping that clean sheet.
“There has to be pride in your defending. An ugly win but a big win. The goal was fantastic, a special goal. But if you want to make progress, it has got to be about being defensively solid. It is a start in terms of momentum for the younger players but you have to find something. Digging out results. The teams I played in, we didn’t play well every week but we dug in. They have to kick on now,” Keane was quoted as saying by the Sky Sports.
United manager Ruben Amorim believes that the manner in which United ground out the win over Newcastle will take them far in this season. Amorim has already seen his side take wins over Liverpool and Chelsea this season but, when asked if the manner of this one made it one of his most satisfying at the club, he agreed.
“Especially if you see the second half,” he said at his post-match press conference. “We managed to defend sometimes with a back six but we suffer together and that is a good feeling… If we have always this spirit we are going to win so many games. I think it is something we need to feel, that we can win sometimes without playing so well, we can win games with the spirit and with a togetherness in the team,” he said.