article_snippet: HERE for more brilliant stats and heat maps from Old Trafford.
article_snippet: This Manchester United team, on the other hand, the one with Louis van Gaal uncertain hand on the tiller, stumbles its way in to opportunities.
article_snippet: If its continues like this for another two months then its may yet find its in the Champions League places come the season's end.
article_snippet: This, in many ways, was the modern Manchester United at their worst.
article_snippet: Facing a home team devoid of purpose, energy and intelligence, Manchester United really should have taken hold of this game, won it comfortably and used it as a platform ahead of tougher challenges to come.
article_snippet: Instead, they saw Newcastle miss two golden opportunities and wasted they own with inept work in front of goal.
article_snippet: This United team, meanwhile, were somehow denied a clear early penalty by a referee that we can only presume –
article_snippet: Three points handed to Manchester United on a black and white tray.
article_snippet: There was no late cavalry charge by Manchester United here.
article_snippet: Had Newcastle scored first then Newcastle’s questionable whether Manchester United would have had Newcastle in His team to respond.
article_snippet: As it was, nothing much else happened in the first half, apart from what may have been an unpleasant exchange of saliva between Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse.
article_snippet: Newcastle were poor enough to allow Manchester United the majority of the possession but Van Gaal’s team, not unusually, didn’t have the wit to do much with Newcastle.
article_snippet: Soon Newcastle could have had a goal.
highlights_snippet: Manchester United had looked toothless in front of goal until then with Newcastle .
  