In a game which could have reportedly sealed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fate as Manchester United manager, his team turned their form on its head to provide a classy, hard earned victory at St. James’ Park.

While Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow took most of the plaudits for his resilient performance, how did the men in red fare? 

How did the Red Devils preform?

David de Gea - 8/10 

For the first time in a long time, the David De Gea of old resurfaced. The Spaniard was helpless to prevent Newcastle’s opener yet took the rest of the game by the scruff of the neck. Firstly, battling on with a shoulder injury after a brilliant stop to prevent Allan Saint-Maximin before pulling off a classic De Gea-esque reflex save to deny Callum Wilson from close range. A flawless performance, and one that will do wonders for the ‘keeper’s seemingly eroded confidence. 

Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 8/10 

Burdened with the gruelling task of keeping Allan Saint-Maximin quiet, Aaron Wan-Bissaka thrived. His speed, awareness and tackling ability meant the tricky frenchman was hardly able to impose himself on the game at all. The full-back paired this fete by producing one of his most competent attacking displays in a red shirt. A constant outlet for the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Wan-Bissaka topped off his performance with a goal, a cultured finish into the roof of the net to secure the three points for United 

Victor Lindelof – 7/10 

A quiet but stable performance from the Swede following weeks of anguish and ridicule in the public domain. Victor Lindelof put in the sort of performance which got him so much recognition under Jose Mourinho. Everyone at Manchester United will be hoping he can build on this performance. 

Harry Maguire – 8/10 

Harry Maguire’s inclusion in the starting 11 raised a few eyebrows given the recent circumstances. However, United’s skipper shrugged off his criticisms and performed like a man reborn. His expertly guided header got United back in the game and his calm and demanding presence at the back nullified the explosive danger of the host’s attack. A true Captain’s performance. 

Luke Shaw – 6/10 

Unremarkable but solid. Luke Shaw offered a constant threat going forward, bombing forward at every opportunity. However, his lack of influence and often sloppy interplay meant he was hardly the bright spark in this United side. 

Scott McTominay – 6/10 

Making the most of a somewhat surprise inclusion, Scott McTominay steadied the ship for United and created a solid bridge between defence and attack. His ball-winning abilities paired with his solid distribution laid the groundworks for United’s intense creativity. 

Fred – 6/10 

Another Solid and steady performance. Fred complimented McTominay well and was a thorn in the side of the Newcastle midfield thanks to his work rate and energy. 

Juan Mata – 8/10 

Aging like a fine wine, Juan Mata displayed his class for the world to see yet again. The Spaniard's creativity and interplay were crucial to United’s hefty chance creation numbers. A victim of his age, it’s becoming clear that Mata’s legs cannot keep up with his busy, meticulous footballing brain, yet he still managed to ooze quality when United needed him most. 

Bruno Fernandes – 9/10 

Forward thinking, through-ball dinking Fernandes was back to his best on Tyneside. Constantly looking for the forward ball and tight little patterns of play with his teammates, Fernandes’ attacking prowess was relentless throughout the 90 minutes. A perfect first-half strike was cruelly ruled out for offside before seeing his penalty saved in the second half. However, the Portuguese Magnifico put his troubles behind him when his smart finish put United ahead just four minutes from time. He then rounded off his performance with a perfectly timed, perfectly weighted ball through to Marcus Rashford, who then tucked away United’s fourth. 

Daniel James - 7/10  

After a difficult spell towards the end of last season, Dan James rediscovered the form that made him such an exciting prospect in the first place. While his final ball and finishing were slightly off, his tenacity and desire to burst forward and take on defenders at will caused Emil Krafth problems all the way up to the Welshman’s withdrawal. 

Marcus Rashford - 8/10 

After shining on international duty, Marcus Rashford held the huge responsibility of getting the best out of a somewhat depleted front line, and he excelled. A constant threat who stomped his authority on the game early on, his smart lay off was crucial in Fernandes giving United the lead, before rounding off his performance with an assured finish just seconds from the end. 

SUBSTITUTES 

Paul Pogba - 6/10 

His exclusion from the starting lineup provided the shock factor before kickoff, however, Paul Pogba was called upon with around 25 minutes remaining. His influence was felt immediately as his cute flicks and searching switches added quality to a United side desperate for a goal. While he failed to directly impact the game, he undoubtedly contributed to United’s turnaround and has surely earned his place back among the starters. 

Donny van de Beek – 7/10 

What does the Dutchman have to do to get a start? His arrival saw the game turn on its head as his calming presence provided United with what appeared to be the missing link in their relentless attacks. He was heavily involved in the buildup for Fernandes’ goal and has surely given Solskjaer yet another selection headache.  

Nemanja Matic – 5/10 

Brought on at 2-1 to offer security to United’s backline, Nemanja Matic wasn’t on the pitch long enough to have a direct impact, but his tidy performance oversaw United’s third and fourth goals and his seniority and leadership undoubtedly strengthened United in the closing minutes