Many Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media after one supporter shared their slight optimism at facing Manchester United on Boxing Day, as the Red Devils were beaten 2-0 by relegation-threatened Watford on Sunday.
Watford welcomed the Red Devils to Vicarage Road without a win at home in the Premier League this season, and with just one victory in their last 17 top-flight matches overall.
The Hornets’ dire form this term has seen last season’s 11th-placed finishers prop up the league standings for most of the campaign, and remain rooted to last place on goal difference to Norwich City despite their favourable result at the weekend.
Nigel Pearson was able to take his first three points in the Vicarage Road dugout, as David de Gea made a major blunder to allow a mishit effort by Ismaila Sarr to bounce through his legs and into the net to open the scoring before Troy Deeney converted from the spot.
United struggled to get anything going in their favour against a buoyant Watford, and it was not until the 52nd-minute that they registered a shot on target.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were not starved of possession at Vicarage Road, either, as the travelling Red Devils were allowed 63.9% of possession, fashioned a total of 17 shots, completed 84% of their 562 passes and made 14 key balls, per WhoScored data, but ultimately failed to score.
Their performance against Watford has given some Newcastle fans reason to be optimistic heading into our trip to Old Trafford on Boxing Day, a stadium where we have not won since beating Manchester United 1-0 in December 2013.
What will the result be at Old Trafford?
Man Utd win
Draw
Toon win
That festive delight is our only away win over the Red Devils in our last 39 visits to Old Trafford, dating back to a previous win in February 1972.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the suggestion that now may be as good of a time as any to play away to Manchester United…
We have nowt to fear against them if we turn up. Which we didn’t away from home to burnley and villa…lets see.
— Paul Handy (@Handy81Paul) December 22, 2019
Anyone can. Man U stinks ha
— NosleeptillBelmont (@MMBNYI) December 22, 2019
Perhaps another smash and grab?
— Adam Raupp Painting (@AdamRauppPaint) December 22, 2019
We got this easily. They’re in a free fall. We’re playing with house money. I love this season
— Michael Doggett (@DoggyTony) December 22, 2019
Let’s gooooo
— Shay🗡 (@Saintbazza10) December 22, 2019
We’ve already beaten them at home. 🤷♂️
— Gary Meggaz Megson (@TheHonestJohns) December 22, 2019
This blows… they will be fired up as hell for boxing day now
— Andreas B. (@AndreasAsB) December 22, 2019
Appart from the fact they looked a different team when Pogba came on and he’ll probably start against us now
— Michael Cantwell (@mickycantwell) December 22, 2019
In other Newcastle United news, the Toon have been credited with an interest in an £18million man likely set to be sold in January.