Tactics

Mourinho made three changes to his starting line-up, with Ashley Young coming in at right-back and assuming the captain’s armband in place of Antonio Valencia, who dropped out of the squad entirely, while Scott McTominay replaced Marouane Fellaini in midfield. Anthony Martial joined Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku in attack as he came in for Alexis Sanchez – it was only the second time this season that front three had started together. The manager spoke prior to the match about the incoming personnel bringing more energy into the team.

Substitutions

The line-up was swiftly altered after the hosts made a shocking start to the contest and were 2-0 down by the 10th minute. A livid-looking Mourinho got players warming up on the sidelines and in the 19th minute brought on Juan Mata for Eric Bailly and moved McTominay into central defence. McTominay was then replaced by Fellaini at half-time with another midfielder, Nemanja Matic, going into the defence – while centre-half Victor Lindelof remained on the bench. Sanchez subsequently came on for Rashford in the 68th minute, two minutes before United’s comeback – capped by the Chilean’s 90th-minute winner – began with Mata netting from a free-kick.

The crowd

A United fan was seen holding a sign that said ‘STILL UNITED WITH JOSE!!’ at the start of the contest, and midway through the first half a section of Red Devils supporters sang “Jose’s right, the board are s****”. Newcastle fans enjoyed their opportunity to have a dig while the score was 2-0, chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” and “you’re not special any more” at Mourinho. Having heard boos ringing out around the stadium when the first half concluded, Mourinho then heard his name being sung loudly following Sanchez’s goal and another sign was then visible in the crowd, reading ‘JOSE IS A WINNER! WOODWARD IS A LOSER!’

Demeanour

Mourinho, in the technical area from the off, appeared reasonably relaxed as the game got under way and gave some claps of encouragement to his players. That soon changed, with Newcastle’s two early goals prompting angry gesticulating and shouting from the 55-year-old. The rest of the first half saw him signal his frustration at various times with outstretched arms, and at others stand more or less motionless with a face like thunder. Having done much the same since the break, Mourinho then gave little reaction to Mata’s goal, before letting some emotion out when Martial levelled in the 76th minute, shouting and making a gee-up motion with his hands. When Sanchez scored the winner, Mourinho’s main response was to call Matic over for a chat, and after the final whistle went he clapped a few times as he headed for the tunnel.

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