David Moyes' calamitous start as Manchester United manager turned into a full-blown crisis as Yohan Cabaye ended Newcastle's 41-year wait for a win at Old Trafford yesterday.
The result condemned United, who were booed off at the end by the few fans left in the ground, to back-to-back home Premier League defeats for the first time 2002. They have now lost five times this season and have collected just two points from their last four games.
For Moyes, it is the stuff of nightmares, although the Scot has been dignified in rolling with the heavy blows already inflicted during his short tenure and he retains the support of the club's owners.
He said: "I'm disappointed with the result. I think we needed a bit of luck to go for us. We lacked a little bit of creativity at the right times. We've lost two games 1-0 and both results have probably been slightly against the run of play. So we have to create more chances and play better. That's the way to do it.
"We are in a transitional period and that was always going to be the case. We hoped it wouldn't be quite as poor as it has been in the last few games but hopefully we'll get that right. I think the fans have been great and I think they understand it is transition and I think they understand it is the same players that were here last year as well.
"But obviously the manager has changed, so we'll work and work and we'll try to improve it and try to get better. When I came here I knew it wasn't always going to be easy and it's proving that way. I stand firm that we'll be very close to [the title race]and I hope we're in and around it at end of the season."
Newcastle scored the only goal of the game just after the hour when Patrice Evra's clearing header bounced back off Moussa Sissoko. That allowed the Newcastle man a free run into the area and he cut back a perfect cross to invite Cabaye's first-time finish, albeit via slight deflection off Nemanja Vidic.
As the whistle blew on yet another goal-less first-half for United, it was hard not to feel a little bit of sympathy for a set of players who appeared paralysed by fear. Seven changes from the midweek loss to Everton, including the return of Robin van Persie after a four-match absence with a groin strain, should have had a positive impact.
But the additional mobility compared to last Wednesday was lost amid the tentativeness of a team who looked scared to lose in front of a crowd on the brink of a very negative reaction.
Tim Krul pulled off a decent save from Phil Jones in the early stages but had little else to do in the first half. Fabricio Coloccini made an excellent clearing header to prevent Vidic getting to Adnan Januzaj's cross, and the young Belgian was robbed in the box brilliantly by Yoan Gouffran. At the other end, David de Gea turned away one-handed a thunderous first-time shot from Mathieu Debuchy and repelled the same player's close-range header.
After the break Krul saved from Javier Hernandez and Januzaj before Evra bulleted a header from a Nani corner against the post. The rebound struck Vurnon Anita's hand but he had no chance of avoiding it.
Referee Andre Marriner again waved play on minutes later when Cheick Tiote cut down Evra close to the Newcastle goal-line. Cabaye then put the visitors ahead and the closest United came to replying was through a Van Persie shot that found the net but was chalked off for offside.
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