Magpies deepen the gloom at Old Trafford

Goals from Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock fired Newcastle into the last eight of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, as the Magpies beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford to pile more misery on the Red Devils. 

The Action: The game suffered an interruption almost straight from kick-off, as the visitors were forced into an early reshuffle: Miguel Almiron coming on to replace Matt Target who left the field in obvious discomfort with what appeared to be a hamstring strain. 

The early stages saw both sides try to take a foothold in the game, the hosts looking to pass with tempo and the visiting Magpies springing forward quickly on the break. 

Clear-cut chances were at a premium, however - until Newcastle took the lead just before the half hour mark. The Magpies burst forward and worked the ball left to sub Almiron, who had the drop on Diogo Dalot and fired an angled finish across Andre Onana into the far corner of the net. 

Reeling after their Manchester derby defeat to Pep Guardiola's City on Sunday, United's fragility was clear to see and on 35 minutes the Red Devils woes worsened. 

A cross from the left was only partially cleared by Harry Maguire's header and Newcastle summer signing Lewis Hall fired a clinical left-footed volley into the same corner as Almiron's effort to double the visitors' lead. 

The hosts toiled, with Mason Mount's long range drive stinging the palms of former Red Devil Martin Dubravka, but the interval arrived with Eddie Howe's Newcastle 2-0 in front and in command. 

Erik ten Hag's position has been increasingly questioned over recent weeks and the speculation will no doubt continue to a swirl after a miserable night that got even worse after the break. 

On 60 minutes, Newcastle effectively killed the contest with a third goal. After the visitors had won the ball in United's half, the Magpies' Joe Willock drove forward at the heart of the hosts' backline and - with Anthony Gordon's clever run buying him space and time - the midfielder slotted a fine low finish past Onana. 

Howe's side gained some measure of revenge for their defeat against the same opposition in the final of the competition last season, and Newcastle will now be one of the favourites to life the trophy with the likes of Man City and Arsenal having already bitten the dust. 

For United, a long and sobering season appears to be in store. 

xG: Man Utd (0.71) 0-3 (1.04) Newcastle