Manchester United 1 Newcastle 0

Patrick Dorgu was Manchester United's unlikely hero as they edged past Newcastle United 1-0 in the Premier League on Boxing Day to leapfrog Liverpool into fifth spot.

The wing-back's first goal for the Red Devils was enough to give Ruben Amorim's side – who were without Bruno Fernandes due to injury – victory at Old Trafford.

Dorgu made the decisive contribution midway through the first half, with a superb left-footed volley from just inside the penalty area.

Lewis Hall rattled the crossbar from distance as Newcastle piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser, but Eddie Howe's side saw their winless streak in the Premier League extend to three matches.

Man Utd are now fifth in the table, behind fourth-place Chelsea on goal difference, while the Magpies remain 11th after missing the chance to move into the top half.

How the match unfolded

Both sides went close from corners inside the opening 12 minutes; Casemiro nodded over at one end, while goalkeeper Senne Lammens thwarted Bruno Guimaraes' near-post header at the other. However, the breakthrough arrived in spectacular fashion in the 24th minute. Nick Woltemade could only head Diogo Dalot's long throw as far as Dorgu, whose fierce left-footed volley flashed past  helpless 'keeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The hosts then went close to doubling their advantage on the hour mark, with Benjamin Sesko clipping the top of the crossbar from a tight angle on the left of the box.

Moments later, Hall also rattled the bar at the other end, while Anthony Gordon shot right across the face of goal and wide.

Dalot squandered a golden chance to make it 2-0 in the 73rd minute, firing over in a one-on-one with Ramsdale after Newcastle were slow to react to Lisandro Martinez’s diagonal delivery into the box.

Newcastle dominated large periods towards the end of the contest. Gordon fired over following a neat move, while Lewis Miley was also marginally off target as the equaliser ultimately eluded them.

No Fernandes, no problem for Amorim

The Premier League's most successful side on Boxing Day, Man United chalked up their 23rd such victory after holding on for all three points.

However, the omens did not originally look good as the Red Devils had lost each of the five league matches that midfield talisman Fernandes had not started prior to this game.

Dorgu made up for the absence of his quality, though, with a sweetly struck volley that ultimately decided the contest, after he watched the looping ball all the way onto his foot.

Man Utd have struggled against Newcastle in recent times, losing four of their last five league meetings, but while they did not shine in front of goal, they found some defensive solidity at the back.

Casemiro returned from suspension to replace Fernandes and play alongside Manuel Ugarte in the middle to provide extra shielding to the back line, which had Martinez making his first start since February.

And by keeping the Magpies at bay, despite the continued late pressure at Old Trafford, Amorim’s side kept just a second clean sheet in the Premier League this season to move within goal difference of the top four.

Three of the Premier League's bottom five sides await the Red Devils, who host bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 December, before trips to Leeds United and Burnley in the new yea

While Man Utd historically enjoy Boxing Day, the same cannot be said for Newcastle, who have now lost a competition-high 17 times on 26 December.

The Magpies will have been confident, having completed the league double over their opponents last season, and were seeking a third straight win in the fixture for the first time in over 100 years.

However, they were undone by a moment of real quality from Dorgu that left Ramsdale with no chance, and they struggled to replicate something similar at the other end.

Only Newcastle’s bitter rivals Sunderland had failed to score against the Red Devils in the Premier League this season, and Howe’s side increased the pressure in search of an equaliser after the break.

However, their efforts proved to be in vain as they were lacking a cutting edge, with Gordon and Miley some of the main culprits, as they failed to show some composure when it was needed.

Without a win in three league matches, Howe and his side will welcome the prospect of travelling to struggling Burnley in their next match on 30 December.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez (c) (Fredricson 89), Shaw (Malacia 88); Casemiro (Yoro 61), Ugarte; Dorgu, Mount (J. Fletcher 46), Cunha; Sesko (Zirkzee 60).

Subs not used: Bayindir, T. Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato.

Booked: Shaw, Cunha.

Goals: Dorgu 24.

Newcastle: Ramsdale; Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall; Guimaraes (c), Ramsey (Joelinton 68), Tonali (Willock 77); J. Murphy (Barnes 68), Woltemade (Wissa 68), Gordon.

Subs not used: Pope, A. Murphy, Shahar, Alabi, Neave.

Booked: Tonali.