Patrick Dorgu delivered Manchester United a tight 1-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, scoring a decisive first-half volley.
Ruben Amorim’s team collected three points despite missing injured captain Bruno Fernandes, while Newcastle controlled possession but failed to turn pressure into goals on a busy Boxing Day fixture.
The winning moment arrived on 24 minutes from a set-play phase, after Nick Woltemade’s defensive header dropped outside the box. Dorgu reacted first and struck a fierce left-footed volley, sending the ball past Aaron Ramsdale, who had little chance, as Manchester United’s reshaped back four protected the advantage.
Before Dorgu’s goal, both sides created early aerial chances. Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes each threatened with headers that went narrowly off target. Later, around the hour mark, Benjamin Sesko crashed a shot against the bar from a tight angle, and Lewis Hall replied moments after, also striking the woodwork from distance.
Manchester United almost settled the contest on 73 minutes. Diogo Dalot timed a run behind the defence to meet Lisandro Martinez’s diagonal pass but lifted the finish over Ramsdale’s crossbar. Newcastle pushed hard in the closing stages, yet Anthony Gordon and Lewis Miley both shot over as the visitors left Old Trafford frustrated.
Amorim’s side secured a rare league win without Fernandes. Manchester United won a Premier League match in which Fernandes did not feature for the first time since a 3-2 success against Tottenham in March 2022, ending a sequence of five straight defeats in similar circumstances and providing a significant boost to squad belief.
This match also marked Amorim’s first Premier League outing with Manchester United using a back four, and the switch proved important as it delivered only a second clean sheet of the league campaign. Manchester United have now scored 13 set-play goals, excluding penalties, more than any other Premier League club this season.
Possession figures underlined Newcastle’s control of the ball but not the scoreline. Manchester United finished with just 33.4% possession, their lowest share in a league game this season, yet still found a way to win. Newcastle dominated territory and tempo but lacked precision when key opportunities appeared in the Manchester United penalty area.
Newcastle’s record on this festive date worsened again. The club have now lost 17 Premier League matches on December 26, more than any other side. Away form also remains a concern, with Newcastle winning only one of the last 12 league games on the road, drawing four and losing seven.
That travel run compares poorly with other regular Premier League teams. Since the first match in this sequence, only Wolves have claimed fewer away points, collecting four compared to Newcastle’s seven. For Eddie Howe, this defeat at Manchester United extended a difficult pattern of Boxing Day results and continued struggles in away Premier League fixtures.
Key match and season numbers from Manchester United’s Premier League win over Newcastle United are shown below.
A BIG WIN ON BOXING DAY!Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2025
Manchester United’s narrow victory highlighted effective set-play work, tactical flexibility from Amorim and resilience without Bruno Fernandes. Newcastle’s stronger possession, repeated Boxing Day defeats and weak away record showed again. The result kept pressure on Newcastle’s coaching staff while reinforcing Manchester United’s belief that different line-ups can still secure important Premier League results.
