Dane Patrick Dorgu fired a superb volley into the corner to record his first goal for the club.
Benjamin Sesko struck the crossbar shortly before Lewis Hall did the same at the other end.
The result sees the hosts rise to fifth, while Eddie Howe's side remain in 11th in the table.
And what next for Newcastle United?
Tuesday, December 30: Burnley (away), Premier League, 7.30pm UK, 2.30pm ET
Newcastle face struggling side Burnley in another match away from home, also in four days' time.
What next for Manchester United?
Tuesday, December 30: Wolverhampton Wanderers (home), Premier League, 8.15pm UK, 3.15pm ET
United face bottom side Wolves up next in four days' time.
How does Eddie Howe fix his side’s away form?
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Newcastle’s away results are becoming almost predestined. In 18 top-flight games on the road across 2025, they have won only five and have lost half of them.
Only one of those victories has come in the last 11, while they have lost five of their last six.
For a Champions League outfit, a return of six points from a possible 27 on their travels is simply unacceptable. Especially when they are yet to visit the Etihad, the Emirates, Anfield or Stamford Bridge.
There are numerous issues which Howe has to fix to turn that form around. They continue to concede from set pieces and they have not kept a clean sheet in 11 games in all competitions.
Their second-half display at Old Trafford was encouraging, however. There are therefore some reasonable on-the-ball foundations from which Howe can build.
A trip to Turf Moor to end 2025 may be just the antidote Newcastle require, given second-bottom Burnley have not won since October, but no game away game is a ‘gimme’ for Howe’s side right now.
What does this result and performance mean for Man United?
It was a notably tetchy second half for the home fans.
Casemiro gave a “Who me?” gesture to the dugout when he saw his number on the fourth official board, and Man United fans were left wondering why Ruben Amorim brought off his best defensive midfielder when up against one of the most robust midfields in the league.
Newcastle repeatedly knocked on the door in the game’s final 20 minutes, but they saw the majority of their efforts go wide of Senne Lammens’ goalposts. What on-target efforts they did manage were smothered by a crowd of red shirts in the penalty area.
Amorim has made it clear that his team must be willing to suffer for results, and his men scratched and clawed their way to the finish line on Boxing Day.
The win takes them up to fifth in the Premier League table with bottom-half sides Wolves, Leeds and Burnley making Manchester United’s next trio of opponents.
The new year could bring new hope for this steadily improving side.
How does the result leave the table?
Premier League
United climb to fifth after today's win, only outside the top four and Champions League places on goal difference, albeit having played one game more than all the teams around them.
Newcastle remain 11th, six points off Chelsea in fourth.
Let's hear from Ruben Amorim
Manchester United manager Amorim had his say after the match,
💬 “We had to suffer all together in the stadium, in the game, it was really difficult for us. We did a good first half and then the second half was just defending, trying to do something with (Matheus) Cunha.
“We had our opportunities of course in the second half with transitions but it was a good win.
“I’ve had so many games here saying that we played really well and didn’t get the three points. Today was the opposite. We suffered together and managed to win the game.”
On Mason Mount's injury, he added: “He felt something. He wanted to continue, but we didn't want to take any risks.”
Was Lewis Hall Newcastle’s brightest spark?
The Athletic
When Newcastle's first-choice wide defenders in Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento are fit and available, the team are an entirely different proposition.
Hall being available again following hamstring problems is absolutely critical to their prospects this season.
The 21-year-old was Newcastle’s best player by a distance at Old Trafford and he was central to everything positive the visitors did.
Hall carried possession well, drove at opposition defenders, fed balls in behind the defence and tried to whip crosses into the area when he could.
His wicked, vicious 62nd-minute effort, which he lashed towards goal from 25 yards after stealing possession high, dipped fiercely and cannoned back off the bar. It spotlighted Hall’s technical quality.
At times, Hall plays as an additional attacker, offering Newcastle an entirely fresh dimension to when Dan Burn is filling in out of position. If he continues to play like this, Hall is surely World Cup-bound with England.
How good was Patrick Dorgu?
The Athletic
Let's give Patrick Dorgu his flowers. The goal came about from a Diogo Dalot corner kick directed to the six yard box, which was first cleared by Nick Woltemade.
But the Newcastle striker’s header only saw the ball loop to the edge of the penalty area where Dorgu was able to meet it with a superb left-footed volley.
“What a hit,” was Gary Neville’s to-the-point response to the strike on Sky Sports’ commentary. Dorgu looked a player transformed operating on the right wing.
His defensive hustle and bustle saw him applauded by the Old Trafford crowd, before getting an encouraging push in the back from Casemiro. “Keep doing what you’re doing,” was the message from the defensive midfielder.
By the hour mark, Dorgu had registered 36 touches of the ball, hoovering up square meterage on the field. Signed last January, the 21-year-old is finishing the year strongly.
Manchester United’s interest in Antoine Semenyo suggests Amorim would like a more attack-minded player to play on the wing in future, but Dorgu is doing plenty to keep himself in his coach’s plans for 2026.
Manchester United's average positions today
The Athletic
Our graphic above shows how deep Casemiro dropped, almost between the two centre-halves, with Manuel Ugarte nearly beyond Mason Mount in terms of average positions tonight.
Matheus Cunha tucked inside from the left alongside Benjamin Sesko up front, with Patrick Dorgu holding the width on the right.
An imperfect but important win for the hosts
Getty Images
A big win for Manchester United.
It was not pretty and ground out in second half. I'm not sure substitutions worked either.
But it was committed defensive display for only the second clean sheet of season.
They are up to fifth, at least temporarily.
Another strong showing from Ayden Heaven
A strong display by Ayden Heaven, on his fifth start in a row for Manchester United
Below, you can check out The Athletic's interview with him and his agent mum from the summer.
“Per Mertesacker was like, ‘He’s not a midfielder, he’s not a winger, he’s a defender’.”
...and our team dashboard
The Athletic
The Athletic's team dashboard above shows how deep Manchester United were sat.
Newcastle's ball progression, ball circulation and build-up was better and more effective.
As was their high press.
But Manchester United's counter-attacking style, with six fast breaks to three, saw them sting Newcastle effectively.
Dive deeper with our match dashboard...
The Athletic
Surprisingly, considering all Newcastle's possession and pressure in the second half especially, the expected goals (xG) totals were the same: 1.2.
Newcastle had 16 shots to Manchester United's nine but both sides had three on target.
The visitors enjoyed 66 per cent possession, nearly two thirds, and had a field tilt of 79 per cent, underlining the pressure they put on the hosts.
But the lack of shots on target is a damning statistic.
More Boxing Day delight for Manchester United
Today, Manchester United recorded a win which extends their record as the club with more Boxing Day victories than any other team in English league history.
Unique.
Man Utd 1 Newcastle 0: The Briefing
Getty Images
Manchester United weathered a second-half bombardment from Newcastle to record a 1-0 win that takes them up to fifth place in the Premier League.
Newcastle showed much more intent in the second half but the home side hung on to record a big three points.
Below, The Athletic's Carl Anka and Chris Waugh analyse the key talking points from the game.
Enjoy.
Concerns will become critical if Newcastle cannot win away next
Newcastle look like a side lacking belief on their travels, which is understandable given their appalling away form.
Yes, they dominated possession and territory in the second half, but they never tested Lammens and rarely actually looked like scoring. There is a lack of conviction there.
Turf Moor on Tuesday offers Newcastle the opportunity to end a dreadful year on their travels in the Premier League with a win. If they cannot beat Burnley away, then already serious concerns become critical.
They simply will not climb the table unless they can collect more than a paltry six points from a possible 27 on the road.
Newcastle unable to turn around a deficit, again
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And neither is the fact Newcastle are still without to get a point in the Premier League this campaign after falling behind.
They wouldn't be very good trampoline makers.
A severe lack of bouncebackability.
Just one away win for Newcastle this season...
...not a fantastic record for Eddie Howe's side.
Getty Images
A real team performance from Manchester United today.
A little desperate and frantic at times but they were so committed in defending their goal out on that pitch.
