I’ll leave you with Louise Taylor’s report from St James’s Park. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks! “A fourth clean sheet in open play on the spin. And finally we kept a clean sheet on set pieces. I thought it was a very professional performance. We were in control and kept plugging away. A great strike by Marcus and great reaction by Rom. When you the keeper sees big Rom running towards you, I think you will take your hands away. In the first half it was like a testimonial at times - too slow. But a very professional performance in the end. We have the FA Cup on Saturday morning but we go to Dubai and work on a bit of fitness. It’s a good time now. In March and April we will need legs and I think we’ve got them.”

Marcus Rashford speaks! “Hard work was definitely the key. They were difficult to break down. When we could counter that was when they were open. We got there in the end. I think relaxing in front of goal is key. Having those words around you makes a difference.”

Romelu Lukaku speaks about his goalscoring cameo! “You have to be ready. That’s what the manager asked from me. I just tried to help the team. I knew the goalkeeper might fumble. He didn’t in the first half but I was there. Marcus, I and Anthony are learning a lot from the manager.”

Newcastle defended well for long spells and had some good chances but it was an uphill struggle after Martin Dubravka gifted Romelu Lukaku the opener. Rafa Benitez’s side are two points above the bottom three and are in desperate need of reinforcements this month. The picture looks rosier for Manchester United, though. A fourth consecutive win under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer maintains their post-Jose recovery and sees them go six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Suddenly their season has meaning, although it will be interesting to see how they fare against Tottenham on Sunday week. Ole v Poch: spicy.

90 min+5: Dubravka saves Lukaku’s low shot. But it’s a bit late now, isn’t it.

90 min+3: Lingard releases Pogba, who skips round Dubravka and tries to fire into an empty net. However he’s forced himself wide and ends up stroking the ball into the side netting. The Newcastle fans jeer, but they aren’t really getting the last laugh here, are they.

90 min+1: Pogba’s still arguing with Shelvey. He got his revenge on the Newcastle midfielder with a heavy tackle a few minutes ago. By the way, six added ones.

90 min: Yedlin is down with a foot injury.

89 min: Shelvey sends a header on to the top of the net.

87 min: Jesse Lingard replaces Marcus Rashford, who turns out to be good at football. Who knew?

85 min: Ritchie sends a shot well off target. Newcastle are done here.

83 min: This is all pretty embarrassing for Jose Mourinho, isn’t it.

82 min: Yoshinori Muto replaces Fabian Schar.

A Newcastle attack breaks down and United set off on of their own, Rashford freeing Lukaku down the right. Lukaku cuts inside before finding Sanchez, who turns, looks up and pokes a brilliant pass through three Newcastle defenders, all of whom have left Rashford alone on the left. Rashford takes a moment to make up his mind. Then he slides a serene finish under Dubravka. Easy.

75 min: Shaw’s booked for pulling back Yedlin. Shelvey’s free-kick is cleared as far as Atsu, who fires wide from 20 yards.

74 min: Rashford slams the free-kick into the wall. The Newcastle fans are booing Pogba now, which is stupid.

73 min: Shelvey brings Pogba down with an awful challenge 30 yards from goal, lunging into the back of Pogba’s legs with his studs. That was basically a stamp. Absolutely moronic from Shelvey, who could have done Pogba some serious harm. No wonder Pogba is fuming and wants a word with Shelvey, who is very lucky not to be sent off.

71 min: Shelvey clips a free-kick into the area from the right after a foul by Sanchez. Pogba inadvertently turns the ball through to Rondon but the striker’s too slow to control, turn and shoot before De Gea denies him.

69 min: Shelvey blazes high and wide from 20 yards. That’s the cue for Newcastle to bring on Kenedy for Perez.

66 min: That’s two in two off the bench for Lukaku. He’s had his critics this season but he’s making an impact for Solskjaer.

The free-kick’s to the left of the D and around 30 yards from goal. Marcus Rashford fancies another strike. He drives it over the wall and it moves through the air awkwardly. Dubravka should still hold it, though. It’s straight at him and he has both hands behind it. Instead he spills it and Lukaku reacts before Lascelles to force the rebound home from six yards! He’s been on the pitch less than a minute.

63 min: United make a double change, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial making way for Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku. United, meanwhile, have a free-kick on the left. And...

61 min: Shelvey, influential again, prods a pass through to the livewire Atsu. However he doesn’t have the pace or strength to get away from Lindelof, who levers the winger off the ball as De Gea races out to smother.

60 min: Shelvey clips a beautiful pass through to Perez, slicing United open brilliantly with the outside of his right foot. Yet Perez wants too long and lets Shaw recover to make a fine block on his shot. Then Shelvey has a pop from 18 yards. Straight at De Gea. Newcastle are the better side at the moment.

59 min: Martial tries to thread a pass through to Rashford, but Ritchie eases the striker off the ball and makes sure Newcastle get a goal-kick.

58 min: Atsu scoots down the left and decides to have a shot from 20 yards. His effort flashes well wide.

57 min: Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez are warming up for United, who might make a change soon.

55 min: It’s impressive how little has happened since half-time.

53 min: Jonjo Shelvey replaces the injured Mo Diame. Shelvey will either win the game for Newcastle or lose it for them.

51 min: Shaw and Mata both try to get the ball into the middle from the left. Nothing doing. Moments later Lindelof outmuscles Rondon and knocks a pass through to Rashford, who’s played onside by Schar. The striker cuts inside, ignores his team-mates in the middle and hits a shot out for a throw.

48 min: A low-key start to the half.

46 min: Newcastle get the second half underway. It’s not long before Lindelof gets a booking.

Half-time reading

45 min+2: Diame returns.

45 min: Now Diame’s down and in need of a chat with the physio. This has petered out. Two added minutes.

44 min: Atsu returns to the pitch after some treatment. He’s faded after a bright start. Newcastle could do with him stirring again. They have no spark up front at the moment.

42 min: Mata’s curling delivery tempts Phil Jones. He clears it effortlessly.

41 min: Pogba’s fouled on the right. Mata goes across to take the free-kick.

39 min: After some treatment, Martial lives. Hopefully he won’t have woken up thinking that Mourinho’s still in charge.

38 min: Perez accidentally boots the ball straight into Martial’s face. Down goes the Frenchman. It’s been that sort of half. In fact it’s quite a feat we haven’t seen either team score a farcical goal yet. But Phil Jones is on the pitch, so anything’s possible.

36 min: “If Solksjaer picks Phil Jones to play against Mbappe and Neymar surely UEFA are going to have to step in with some kind of mercy rule,” Michael Meagher says.

No, Michael. Solskjaer just loves attacking football too much.

35 min: Newcastle attack for the first time in around 15 minutes. Atsu crosses from the right and Rondon heads over from six yards. He couldn’t quite rise high enough.

32 min: Lascelles, who’s on a booking, dives into another full-blooded challenge to stop a surging Pogba, who’s sent flying into the air. The replays suggest that was just about on the right side of legal. Which is fortunate for Lascelles given that Pogba was in the Newcastle area.

31 min: Pogba finds Martial, who threatens to burst through on the left, only for Schar to stand firm and deny the forward with a no-nonsense challenge. Moments later Martial flicks the ball through to Rashford, carving Newcastle open. When the ball’s whipped off Rashford’s toes, just in the nick of time, it runs to the right for Mata. But before the Spaniard can stroke home from close range, Dubravaka throws himself at his feet to save Newcastle again.

30 min: Pogba scoops a shot wide from the edge of the area.

28 min: Lascelles overruns the ball and commits himself into a thunderous challenge on Herrera. An obvious yellow card for the Newcastle skipper.

25 min: Another chance for United. Pogba slips a pass inside to Mata, who conjures a delightful assist to set up Martial. However the Frenchman slips after taking the ball on his chest and ends up scooping a disappointing volley over the bar. United’s frustration grows.

24 min: Out of nothing, a long ball from the back from United causes all sorts of problems in the Not United defence. Lascelles and Schar run into each other in the Laurel and Hardy style, allowing Rashford to burst clear. Luckily for the comedy duo, Dubravaka’s going about his job more seriously tonight and he ensures that a sliding Rashford can’t poke the ball past him and into the net.

23 min: Atsu tries to release Rondon but United defender Phil Jones covers and manages not to score an own goal. “Good evening Jäcob, what’s with all these photos of Manchester United staff smiling broadly?” Justin Kävänägh says. “I didn’t think Alexis Sanchez even knew how to smile any more. What a difference a visit from a kindly old veteran filled with good will from Lapland over Christmas makes.”

22 min: “It’s Newcastle United so please stop referring to Manchester just as United in your updates,” weeps John Manning.

20 min: Still no goals for Rashford or Pogba or Martial. Get Fellaini on. That’s how it works, right?

18 min: Perez drops deep and drives a lovely pass over the top to Atsu. Where’s Valencia gone? The right-back’s leaving his man a lot of space. However Atsu’s first touch takes him wide and he lacks a clinical touch again, dragging a lame effort across the face of goal from the left of the United area.

15 min: United counter after that scare and almost silence the increasingly noisy home fans, only for Martial’s shot from the left to rip into the side netting. Close. This might turn into a good game!

14 min: Atsu threatens again on the left after poor defending from Jones. The winger stands up Lindelof and dribbles past the Swede. He’s cut inside on to his right feet and he tries to surprise De Gea with a low stabbed effort. The United goalkeeper is alive to the danger, though, diving to his right to hold. Moments later Newcastle cause more problems. Jones, who scored a majestic own goal against Valencia last month, is hassled into conceding possession by Perez after dawdling near his own area. It’s so dozy and the pressure from Perez sees the ball run through to an onside Rondon, who’s clear on goal. However the striker doesn’t react quickly enough - was he expecting a flag? - and lets Jones race back to make a recovery tackle.

13 min: Newcastle lob an up and under into the United area and Atsu, more alert than Herrera, darts in from the left. The winger controls well but he’s quickly under pressure and only manages to slide a shot straight at De Gea, who makes an easy save.

10 min: Martial runs on to a long ball down the right and tries to outpace Lascelles, who leans in and knocks the United forward over on the edge of the area. Andre Marriner isn’t interested in United’s appeals for another free-kick. Newcastle will argue it’s a contact sport.

9 min: Martial wins a free-kick on the left after being fouled by Yedling. It’s quite far out and the angle isn’t great, but Rashford decides he wants to have a go after scoring at Cardiff. The striker tries to catch out Dubravka with a wobbling low effort towards the near post but the Newcastle goalkeeper dives to his right to make the save. He can’t keep hold of the ball, though, and it squirms clear. There’s a moment of panic in the Newcastle defence but they eventually get the situation under control. Or, to be more precise, Phil Jones was the player trying to do something with the loose ball.

8 min: This feels like Crystal Palace v Chelsea on Sunday, with the hosts sitting back and the visitors seeing most of the ball. The question is whether United can break Newcastle down. Or whether Newcastle will chance their arm with an attack or two.

7 min: Yedlin clips Pogba’s heels on the left. United resist the temptation to send the big men forward from the back. They just keep on playing. Newcastle eventually win the ball back for a brief spell of possession, but they don’t keep it for long.

5 min: Diame picks up possession on the halfway line and pings a long pass straight out for a goal-kick. Excellent.

4 min: United attack down the left, Martial dribbling into the area and exchanging passes with Mata. Yedlin stops the ball reaching Martial, who would have been through on goal. The ball comes back to Pogba, who shoots straight at Dubravka from the left. It seems Newcastle are playing a back five, with Dummett joining Schar and Lascelles in the middle and Yedlin and Ritchie as wing-backs.

2 min: Philippe Albert.

Peep! Manchester United, in their red shirts and white shorts, get the game underway, kicking from left to right in the first half. Newcastle are, get this, in black and white stripes.

Here come the teams! We’ll have football under the St James’s Park lights soon.

“Why can’t you Brits be bothered to get the basics right?” Charles Bruggman roars. “His name is Fabian Schär (the umlaut modifies the sound). If you cannot find a keyboard with the appropriate accents, the alternative spelling is ‘Schaer’. Brexit does not justify sloppiness.”

Brexit means I don’t have to use umlauts any more. About bloody time! Although I do have it in my locker. Watch: Chärles.

Rafa Benitez speaks! “It will be a tough game but we are confident that we can win if we do things well. At the same time I say to my players we have to stay focused to the end. Hopefully it will be the same as last season and we can win. The key thing is to do things right. If we do maybe they will be frustrated. But they are a good team.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks! “The boys have set the standards of where we can perform. The first proper test is when you come away from home. It’s never an easy game at Newcastle, although we had a decent record here when we played. It’s a strong bench. We have a strong squad and that gives us options. I want to put Alexis Sanchez on because he’s been looking sharp in training. He’s been away for a month but he’s really worked hard.”

Pre-match reading

You’ll remember that Alexis Sanchez’s last-minute winner in Manchester United’s comeback win over Newcastle at Old Trafford in October was a real turning point for Jose Mo... oh. But that was a cracking game. Newcastle swept into a two-goal lead at half-time and were unlucky not to be further ahead. They’ll have a chance if they play like that, but they know better than most sides that United are hugely dangerous when they gather attacking momentum.

Newcastle make one change after last Saturday’s draw at Watford. Fabian Schar replaces the injured Federico Fernandez at the back.

Manchester United make three changes after last Sunday’s win over Bournemouth. Antonio Valencia replaces Ashley Young at right-back, Phil Jones comes in for the suspended Eric Bailly and Juan Mata starts in place of Jesse Lingard. Alexis Sanchez, who was absolutely devastated to see Jose Mourinho go, is on the bench after returning from injury.