NEWCASTLE – Jose Mourinho tripped up again at St. James’ Park as his Manchester United team were surprisingly beaten 1-0 by Newcastle on Sunday for a second loss in their last three Premier League games.
Matt Ritchie’s 65th-minute goal – following a free kick awarded for a dive by United defender Chris Smalling – gave Newcastle a victory that lifted them out of the relegation zone.
It is now seven Premier League matches without a win at Newcastle’s ground for Mourinho, who lost three and drew three there across two stints in charge of Chelsea.
More importantly for the Portuguese coach, second-placed United wasted a chance to pull clear of their rivals for Champions League qualification, with Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea still in range.
Manchester City, who beat Leicester 5-1 on Saturday, hold a 16-point lead with 11 games left.
Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had a Premier League debut to remember, saving brilliantly in the first half from Anthony Martial, in the final seconds from Michael Carrick, and looking assured as United piled on the pressure in the second half.
Alexis Sanchez delayed in front of an open goal and had a shot blocked, while Martial also had two efforts blocked near the goal-line by Dwight Gayle.