Erik ten Hag pinpoints two moments where Man Utd should have beaten Newcastle

Erik ten Hag has lamented two huge missed opportunities for Manchester United that should have seen them secure victory over Newcastle.

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United were held to a goalless draw at home to Eddie Howe’s side, a result which leaves them in fifth place ahead of huge clashes against Tottenham and Chelsea next week.

After a poor first-half, ten Hag’s side improved in the second period and created a number of opportunities with Marcus Rashford coming off the bench to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Shortly after coming on, the England international rounded Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and squared the ball to Fred with the angle too difficult to take a shot on himself.

Fred scooped a poor effort wide of the far post, however, under pressure from Fabian Schar.

Rashford was guilty of his own glaring miss deep injury time, steering a superb cross from Casemiro wide with a poor header.

While largely pleased with the result, ten Hag insisted post-match that both chances should have been taken.

‘The performance was good, a clean sheet, we pressed well, we controlled the game and in stages we were good on the ball – especially in the second half,’ ten Hag told BBC Sport.

‘Then, we dictated the game and in the end we could – we should – have score the winning goal. One from Fred, and then [Marcus] Rashford had to score.

‘In the end we could have got the win, we deserved the win, and it is a big compliment to the team that we deserved this with a physical performance against one of the most physical teams in the league.

‘They [Newcastle players] all had cramp and we kept going.

‘The team understands from front to back we cooperate together. We are hard to beat and we must keep that going.’

United sit a point adrift of fourth place Chelsea and nine behind Arsenal, who extended their lead at the summit of the league with a 1-0 win away to Leeds United.

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