Manchester United edged Newcastle 1-0 at Old Trafford, with Patrick Dorgu’s first-half volley proving decisive on a night when Ruben Amorim’s switch in system paid dividends.
Amorim abandoned his usual setup and surprised Newcastle by lining his side up in a back four, with Dorgu pushed higher on the right. The change unsettled the visitors early on as United started brightly, Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko both going close before the breakthrough arrived. Dorgu, still adapting to life in England after arriving from Lecce, met a dropping ball sweetly to send a fierce volley beyond Aaron Ramsdale and into the net.
United looked sharper and more confident in the opening period, with Matheus Cunha particularly influential, driving forward from deep and stretching Newcastle’s shape. The visitors did threaten on the counter, Sesko rattling the crossbar, but struggled to seize control before the interval.
After the break, Newcastle responded with greater urgency. Lewis Hall struck the underside of the bar as Eddie Howe’s side pushed for an equaliser, forcing United into a more defensive posture. Amorim reshuffled again, flattening his side into a compact 4-4-2, with Dorgu and Diogo Dalot tracking back as wide midfielders.
Newcastle dominated territory and possession in the closing stages, sending crosses into the box and appealing in vain for a penalty when Lisandro Martinez tangled with an attacker. Despite the pressure, United held firm, with a patched-up defence showing resilience to protect their narrow lead.
The final whistle confirmed a valuable three points for United, lifting them above Liverpool and into fifth, just outside the top four on goal difference. Newcastle, still struggling for consistency away from home, remain 11th in the table.
Speaking afterwards, Amorim admitted his side had to endure a difficult second half but praised their collective effort. He acknowledged United were forced to defend deep and suffer, yet felt the result was deserved after a strong first-half display.
Howe, meanwhile, felt his team improved after the interval but lamented a lack of sharpness at key moments. He believed Newcastle created enough to get back into the game, but accepted they did not do enough to turn pressure into goals.
For United, the night marked a rare show of tactical flexibility under Amorim and suggested growing belief within a squad still finding its feet. It was not a fluent performance, but it was a determined one – and, for now, it has them looking up the table rather than down.
