#CultClashes: Newcastle and Man Utd have a history of belters
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After the jam packed Christmas period, the footballing feast shows no signs of letting up, with a full programme of fixtures throughout the Premier League to boost the midweek lull.
The BT Sport cameras will be at St James’ Park on Tuesday as they bring the action between a struggling Newcastle side and a err…well, struggling Manchester United side.
Louis van Gaal may have failed to get the fans off his back after a narrow victory over League One’s Sheffield United on Saturday, but a win against the Toon will get them back on track.
With plenty of history between the two sides, we’ve scoured the Premier League archives to find five of the best #CultClashes between the two behemoths of English football.
Newcastle 0-1 Manchester United – March 4 1996
Heading into this game, Newcastle had a four point lead over the Red Devils at the top of the table, with a game in hand, but it was still a far cry to the 11-point advantage they held a month earlier.
Alex Ferguson had started the mind games months earlier, claiming teams would try harder against his sides than against the Magpies, leading to Kevin Keegan’s famous “I would love it” outburst.
On the pitch, a stupendous performance from Peter Schmeichel made sure the likes of Les Ferdinand and Faustino Asprilla were denied, while Eric Cantona did the damage at the other end, netting the only goal in the game in the 51st minute.
The visitors would go on to win the title by four points at Newcastle’s expense.
Newcastle 5-0 Manchester United – October 20 1996
Kevin Keegan and co. didn’t have to wait too long to get revenge of some sort, although in a much smaller dose.
With new £15m signing Alan Shearer in the starting line-up, Newcastle were rampant from start to finish, their new man, and future club legend getting on the score-sheet to make it 4-0.
The best was yet to come though, as Philippe Albert picked up the ball outside the area and delivered the most glorious of lobs from all of 25 yards to leave Peter Schmeichel glued to the spot.
It was to be a parting gift for Keegan, who departed the club less than two months later.
Newcastle 2-6 Manchester United – April 12 2003
Another fixture that could be seen as the turning point of the title race, though this race didn’t involve Newcastle.
Manchester United were level on points with Arsenal, with six games remaining, only goal difference keeping them off top-spot.
That was until they visited St James’ and left with a full head of steam.
A Paul Scholes hat-track, backed up by goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy, gave the away side a commanding victory, one that would see them go on to take the title by five points.
Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle – April 24 2005
This one makes the list, not particularly for the match as a whole, but for one moment of brilliance from Manchester United’s latest hot-shot striker.
Having joined United from Everton in a £25m deal the previous summer, Wayne Rooney was slowly going about his business in his new red shirt.
He made his mark in a remarkable way this day at Old Trafford, as he lurked about dangerously on the edge of the area.
The ball looped up in the air and floated towards the waiting striker, with one swing of his boot Rooney blasted the ball into Shay Given’s top corner in what was arguably one of the best volleys in Premier League history.
Manchester United 4-3 Newcastle – December 26 2012
For much of the game it looked as if Newcastle would end their 40-year wait for a win at Old Trafford on Boxing Day 2012, but the resilience of the hosts meant they didn’t even escape with a point.
Alan Pardew’s men took the lead on no fewer than three occasions with goals from James Perch, Papiss Cisse and a Jonny Evans own goal giving the travelling fans plenty to cheer about.
But Sir Alex Ferguson’s side refused to be pinned down, with Evans scoring at the right end, Patrice Evra netting a second and Robin van Persie bagging the third.
A share of the points looked to be on the cards, that was until Javier Hernandez brought the curtain down on a rip-roaring tie, pouncing on a floated cross from 10 yards out, to bag the spoils.
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