Manchester United U18s hosted Newcastle United at Carrington in the U18 Premier League as they looked to get back on track in the title race.
Adam Lawrence selected a heavily-altered team for the contest from the big win against Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup.
Despite the changes to the side, United were on the front foot right from the get-go, pinning Newcastle in their own half with Tyler Fletcher’s control at the base of the midfield proving a key factor.
Gabriele Biancheri had the first shot on goal but he volleyed into the side netting from Dante Plunkett’s cross.
Biancheri hit the back of the net on his next chance from a rebound after Victor Musa’s shot was saved but it was ruled out for offside.
It looked to be the wrong call which Lawrence was keen to let the assistant referee know as the Welshman was onside at the time of Musa’s shot.
The best chances of the half for both sides came late on. For United, it came as James Bailey drove to the byline and cut the ball back to Musa, who was just five yards out, but somehow put his side-footed effort wide of the post.
A rare Newcastle chance then came moments before the half time whistle when Kacey Wooster broke in behind on the left but his effort towards the far post went wide.
In the second half, United continued to bombard the Newcastle box but it was two United corners which provided the chance for Newcastle to break but good recovery defending from Tyler Fletcher and Jaydan Kamason kept the scores level.
Amir Ibragimov came closest in the second half, first with a long range effort from outside the box that was saved well by Newcastle keeper Will Anderson.
But it was Ibragimov’s second chance that left the midfielder with his head in his hands.
After some excellent work by Jim Thwaites to dance through Newcastle’s midfield, the ball was spread to Shea Lacey on the right wing who clipped the ball into Ibragimov to head from close range but Anderson was on hand to deny again.
Ultimately, despite controlling most of the match, United were unable to find the breakthrough and had to settle for just a point. They missed the finishing abilities of Chido Obi and James Scanlon, who look set to be called up to first-team action.
Having won the first 11 matches of the season, United are now winless in their last three in the league which has seen them lose their grasp on the title to rivals Manchester City who sit atop the table with a five-point lead having played one extra match.
United: Byrne-Hughes, Kamason (Overy 62), Kukonki, Plunkett (Armer 62), Mills, T. Fletcher (C), Bailey (Lacey 62), Ibragimov, Thwaites, Biancheri (Lusale 77), Musa
Subs not used: Heath
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Colm Murphy
A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.
