Newcastle United secured a vital victory on Sunday afternoon against Manchester United to lift them out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.
The Magpies had slipped into the bottom three prior to the game at St. James’ Park following Huddersfield’s 4-1 victory over Bournemouth but Newcastle’s response was magnificent- and it was something the club prepared for.
Mohamed Diame was a starring performer for the Magpies, helping to endure a frustrating afternoon for Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic, and he spoke after the game about the plan Rafael Benitez had created to throw a spanner into Jose Mourinho’s own tactics.
Quoted by The Mag, Diame said:
‘We tried to push and press them, not allow them to turn with the ball. They are the kind of team that if you don’t let them play, you can make them uncomfortable, that’s what we tried to do.’
Limiting the involvement that Pogba and Matic had on the game, Diame and his central-midfield partner Jonjo Shelvey won the battle in the middle of the park and ultimately pushed the Magpies towards a crucial win.
