NEWCASTLE suffered some familiar late heartbreak at Old Trafford as Manchester United overhauled a two-goal deficit to claim a dramatic 3-2 win.

While Jose Mourinho was able to celebrate arguably the most important success of his Old Trafford reign, Rafael Benitez was left to reflect on another case of what might have been. What were the main debating points to emerge from the game?


ALEXIS ‘MARK ROBINS’ SANCHEZ

Mark Robins’ last-gasp winner in an FA Cup tie with Nottingham Forest in January 1990 is widely regarded as the goal that saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s job and changed the course of Manchester United’s modern history.

Perhaps, in years to come, Alexis Sanchez’s weekend winner will be viewed in the same way when it comes to assessing Jose Mourinho’s Old Trafford tenure.

The Portuguese looked set for the exit door when his side were in a state of considerable chaos as Newcastle raced into a two-goal lead, but by the time Sanchez headed in Ashley Young’s cross, Mourinho’s name was being sung to the rafters.

The ‘Special One’ limps on, and while plenty of deep-rooted problems still exist, this could yet prove to be a turning point in his Manchester United reign.


RESPECT TO THE OLD TRAFFORD FAITHFUL

Manchester United fans are often the brunt of other supporters’ jokes. Part-time supporters, glory fans, day trippers from Surrey.

Be that as it may, the Old Trafford crowd at the weekend were magnificent, and their unstinting support undoubtedly played a major role in Manchester United’s stirring comeback.

It would have been easy for the home fans to have turned on their manager and players as they looked to be heading for what would have been an embarrassing defeat, but instead they redoubled their attempts to roar their side on.

There will be some Manchester United fans that have given up on Mourinho, but the hardcore home support undoubtedly still want the embattled Portuguese to remain as their manager.


MUTO SEIZES HIS OPPORTUNITY

Yoshinori Muto has had to wait patiently for an opportunity to impress since joining Newcastle from Mainz, but having been handed his first Premier League start at the weekend, the Japan international made the most of his chance.

His boundless energy was a key factor in Newcastle’s first-half dominance, and his positional fluidity as he drifted across the frontline clearly unsettled the Manchester United defence. He took his goal superbly, flummoxing Ashley Young before firing home.

With the extent of Salomon Rondon’s injury still uncertain, it will be interesting to see whether Benitez sticks with Muto for Newcastle’s forthcoming home games. Clearly, Muto does not have Rondon’s physical presence. But might his mobility and cunning be a better match for the Magpies’ midfield mix?


KENEDY IS BACK TO HIS BEST

It has been a tough two months for Kenedy, with the winger’s penalty miss at Cardiff sparking a dreadful run of form that reached its nadir in the Carabao Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The Brazilian has looked a shadow of the player that performed so impressively last season, and was even dropped to the bench for last month’s home defeat to Arsenal.

He needed a spark to get him going, and it arrived in the seventh minute on Saturday as he raced on to Ayoze Perez’s through ball before firing into the bottom corner.

From that point on, Kenedy looked a much more confident and assured presence, and while a decent second-half strike narrowly failed to find the target, Benitez will desperately be hoping that a corner has been turned.


TAYLOR LOOKS THE WRONG WAY

With Manchester United on the ropes at 2-0 down, Newcastle should have been awarded a penalty when Ashley Young blocked Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick with his arm. Had the Magpies scored to make it 3-0, there would surely have been no way back for the hosts.

Anthony Taylor’s decision not to award a spot-kick was a huge frustration, and the referee’s error was made worse when replays showed him not even looking in Young’s direction. Instead, Taylor was looking towards the six-yard box and missed the incident completely.