Newcastle 0-4 Manchester United: Sublime Mata double boosts Moyes
A 4-1 win over Aston Villa and a 1-1 draw with the European champions has seen a more positive mood at Old Trafford, while the hosts have conceded seven in their last two games
Defending champions Bayern dominated Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg, but Nemanja Vidic's header 13 minutes into the second half gave United a shock lead.
Bastian Schweinsteiger's clinical finish nine minutes later ensured the Bavarian giants secured a 1-1 draw, but a spirited display from United - who had been widely tipped to be beaten comfortably - gave manager David Moyes heart.
Moyes vowed to go "toe-to-toe" with the Bundesliga champions in the second leg at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday, but he must first turn his attention to Saturday's Premier League trip to St James' Park.
United suffered a 1-0 defeat against Alan Pardew's side at Old Trafford back in December to pile more pressure on Moyes, after his former club Everton had consigned them to another home loss three days earlier.
But the Premier League champions will be up against a very different Newcastle side to the one that gave the north-east club their first win at United since 1972.
Match-winner Yohan Cabaye moved on to Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, while Pardew this week bemoaned an injury crisis that has hit the club.
Goalkeeper Tim Krul (shoulder), right-back Mathieu Debuchy (groin), midfielder Moussa Sissoko (thigh) and striker Loic Remy (ankle) are all unavailable, hampering Newcastle's chances of turning their fortunes around following heavy defeats against Everton and Southampton.
A 4-0 hammering at his former club Southampton last Saturday inflicted more woe on Pardew, who will have to watch from the stands once again as he continues to serve a touchline ban for headbutting Hull City midfielder David Meyler.
And the Newcastle manager knows his side could be up against it once again this weekend.
"It's difficult because Man United have had a little upsurge," he said. "They were terrific against Munich and will bring that bounce to our place.
"We're coming off a very poor performance. Everything points to them being favourites to win this game, but we have to prove that wrong."
While United have endured some miserable results at Old Trafford, they have a good record on their travels in the top flight this season.
No side can boast more league victories on the road in the this term than United's total of nine and they have come out on top in their last three away games without conceding a goal.
Left-back Patrice Evra will be back in contention after sitting out the clash with Bayern due to suspension, but Ryan Giggs (groin) and Rafael da Silva (hamstring) could miss out.
Robin van Persie (knee) will definitely not feature, while Wayne Rooney (toe) will also miss out.
The England striker suffered the injury in the first leg against Bayern and is a major doubt for the return, though Moyes will be hoping Jonny Evans (calf) and Chris Smalling (hamstring) are available to return.
The Spaniard curled in a superb free-kick to open the scoring and added a second from close range before Javier Hernandez and Adnan Januzaj capped a comfortable win
Mata curled in a sublime free-kick on 39 minutes to break the deadlock and added a second from close range five minutes after the break following good work from Javier Hernandez.
Newcastle never looked like mounting a comeback and Hernandez celebrated a rare start by adding a third on 64 minutes before Adnan Januzaj struck late on.
| VIEW FROM ST JAMES' PARK |
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| mata's celebration |
Yet Moyes, who was without the injured Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, will take his charges to Munich high on confidence as United seek to follow up last week's 1-1 draw with Bayern by progressing to the last four of Europe's premier club competition.
Ashley Young and Hernandez linked up twice in quick succession early on to force Mike Williamson into carbon-copy near-post clearances, before Marouane Fellaini was penalised for handball when trying to control and shoot inside the box.
Winger Young was forced off the field for treatment on a hand injury with 14 minutes on the clock and Newcastle looked to capitalise as Cheick Tiote flashed a powerful effort over the bar from 15 yards.
The injury ultimately brought a premature end to Young's afternoon, with Januzaj introduced in his place.
An ambitious overheard kick from Papiss Cisse proved simple for Anders Lindegaard to gather as the Dane settled into his first top-flight game since the 5-5 draw at West Brom on the final day of last season.
The stand-in goalkeeper was called into action again midway through the half, tipping Cisse's powerful header over the bar.
Opposite number Rob Elliot was less convincing when he came out to punch away a free-kick from Mata, with the close attention of Chris Smalling causing the ball to fall loose for Shinji Kagawa, who could only drag his shot wide.
However, there was nothing Elliot could do to keep out Mata's superb set-piece effort six minutes before the break as the Spain international lifted a curling effort into the top-right corner from the edge of the box for his second goal in as many league games.
The lead could have been doubled on the stroke of half-time but Hernandez struck Elliot's left-hand post with a low shot after racing clear.
Undeterred by that near miss, the away side did extend their advantage just five minutes into the second half, Mata collecting Hernandez's pass before wrong-footing Fabricio Coloccini and Elliot to stroke home.
The impressive Hernandez gave his side breathing space with a close-range finish from Kagawa's 65th-minute cut-back, the Mexican's fourth top-flight goal of the season.
Cisse forced two excellent late saves from Lindegaard but Januzaj added a fourth for the visitors after an excellent one-two with Mata, handing United a measure of revenge for December's 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture.
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