David Moyes’s Manchester United suffered a second consecutive home loss for the first time in 11 years. Yohan Cabaye’s goal earned Newcastle United a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
The loss to Alan Pardew’s side was the champions’ fifth of the campaign and leaves manager David Moyes under increasing pressure to turn their season around.
After the 1-0 defeat by Everton in mid-week, Moyes insisted that his team could still close the 12-point gap to leaders Arsenal.
But while he will continue to put on a brave face in public, Moyes must be concerned by the lacklustre nature of his team’s performances, as well as their poor results.
“It could have been much better,” lamented a disappointed Moyes as his side stayed ninth in the table, 12 points adrift of leaders Arsenal. “We were needing a goal to give us confidence…but we did not create enough.”
Asked if Manchester United were out of the title race, the Scot replied: “I stand firm that we will be very close to it and I hope we are in there or around it at the end of the season”.
We’ve lost the two games 1-0, they probably have been both slightly against the run of play,” he said.
Asked whether he could see ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, Moyes replied: “There will be, because it is that transitional period and it was always going to be the case. We’d hoped it wouldn’t be quite as poor as it has been in the last few games but hopefully we’ll get that back.”
Moyes applauded the United fans and felt most of them understood the situation.
“I think they understand it is transition, it’s the same players that were here last year as well. Obviously the manager has changed.”
Robin van Persie returned from a month out with a groin problem, but was given little service from a midfield four that was completely changed from the Everton defeat.
Cabaye finished off a quick Newcastle break just after the hour, but the final half an hour was an alarming indication of United’s problems, with visiting goalkeeper Tim Krul barely called into action.
Written by Martins
@MartinsChokoe
