Throwback to a Christmas cracker from 1995

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December 1995: Manchester United 2 - 0 Newcastle United

We're going to throwback to a Christmas cracker from 1995 when Manchester United were 10 points behind top-of-the-table Newcastle.

Author - Olivia T

What happened in the match?

The atmosphere inside Old Trafford was electric, with both sets of fans aware of the stakes. After a poor run of form, the home side desperately needed a win, and the players had to deliver. An early goal from Andy Cole certainly settled some nerves for everyone associated with Manchester United. 

At times, Keegan's team came agonisingly close to equalising as Peter Schmeichel pulled off a series of crucial saves to keep the home side in front. For all Newcastle's attacking prowess, their players struggled to find a way past United’s resilient defence.

The second half saw United assert greater control. Their midfield, marshalled by Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, began to dominate the battle in the centre of the park. Victory was ultimately sealed when Keane scored on the 53rd minute. 

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What happened after?

The Red Devils remained inconsistent and would soon suffer a heavy 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. They would only lose once after that though and Eric Cantona would inspire them to a double. A key victory included in that run was a second victory of the season over Newcastle.

For Newcastle, they recovered from this initial setback well. They won their next five matches and looked on course for an overdue league title. However, at the end of February, it all fell apart. Their dreams of this title were over on the last game of the campaign. 

We spoke to people who were at this match 29 years ago.

Alistair said: "This was my first United game and I have been a fan ever since. The atmosphere was amazing and you sensed that the fans and players knew it was an important match. Even though there was a couple of dodgy performances after, this game played a huge part in us getting to the top of the table and ultimately regaining the title."

Reuben, a Newcastle season ticket holder since 1990, said: "I felt a point in this match would have been a fantastic result and would have gone a long way towards us winning the league. Ultimately, it proved we had a weakness, and this was what Manchester United exploited in the second half of the season."

Location: Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester, UK

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