Statistics & Post-Match Quotes | Newcastle United 0-3 Manchester United

TEAM STATISTICS

MUFC PLAYER STATISTICS

* David de Gea (goalkeeper): 13/19 passing (68%), 0 goals conceded, 2 saves

* Rio Ferdinand (right-center-back): 33/33 passing (100%), 0 chances created, 6/6 long balls, 2 tackles, 1 interception, 15 clearances (9 effective), 0 shots blocked, 1 foul

* Jonny Evans (left-center-back): 48/52 passing (92%), 1 chance created, 2/6 long balls, 0 tackles, 0 interceptions, 11 clearances (6 effective), 1 shot blocked, 0 fouls, 1 goal

* Rafael (right-back): 43/54 passing (80%), 0 chances created, 0/1 crosses, 1/3 long balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 5 tackles, 1 interceptions, 5 clearances (3 effective), 0 shots blocked, 0 fouls

* Patrice Evra (left-back): 33/41 passing (80%), 0 chances created, 0/1 crosses, 0/1 long balls, 0 successful dribbles, 3 fouls won, 5 tackles, 4 interceptions, 9 clearances (6 effective), 1 shot blocked, 1 foul, 1 goal

* Michael Carrick (holding-midfielder): 66/77 passing (86%), 1 chance created, 0/0 crosses, 6/7 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 3 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Shinji Kagawa (central-midfielder | substituted off 55'): 32/36 passing (89%), 0 chances created, 0/2 crosses, 1/1 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 1 tackle, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Tom Cleverley (central-midfielder): 58/65 passing (89%), 0 chances created, 0/0 croses, 3/5 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 3 tackles, 0 interceptions, 3 shots (1 on target), 1 goal

* Wayne Rooney (central-attacking-midfielder | substituted off 80'): 50/58 passing (86%), 2 chances created, 1/4 crosses, 8/9 long balls, 1/1 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 2 fouls won, 1 tackle, 1 interception, 3 shots (3 on target), 2 assists

* Robin van Persie (striker | substituted off 87'): 23/29 passing (79%), 3 chances created, 2/4 crosses, 1/4 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 1 foul won, 1 shot (1 on target), 1 assist

* Danny Welbeck (striker): 28/31 passing (90%), 2 chances created, 0/1 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 2 shots (1 on target)

* Antonio Valencia (right-winger | substituted on 55'): 15/17 passing (88%), 1 chance created, 0/1 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 2 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Paul Scholes (central-midfield | substituted on 80'): 12/13 passing (92%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 2/2 long balls, 0/0 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls win, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

* Ryan Giggs (left-winger | substituted on 87'): 1/3 passing (33%), 0 chances created, 0/0 crosses, 0/0 long balls, 0/1 through balls, 0 successful dribbles, 0 fouls won, 2 tackles, 0 interceptions, 0 shots

POST-MATCH QUOTES

Sir Alex Ferguson | MUFC manager (courtesy of MUTV & Sky Sports)

(On the midfield diamond versus Newcastle...) "I wanted to try the diamond again after some success against Cluj, which is not an easy place to go to, and against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup. It worked very well for us. Obviously there were moments in the second half when we felt we had to change. The diamond closes off the midfield. The only problem is when the ball goes out wide, how far your midfield gets separated. If you try to keep it tight in the centre of the field, then the opposition have to go wide. Okay, we took a gamble today because Newcastle are so big up front and they're good crossers of the ball. But the football we played from the central midfield positions through Cleverley, Kagawa, Rooney and Carrick was terrific. We played so well on Tuesday against a decent team. People look at the name Cluj and say they expect United to win, but they are a decent side. And because we played so well on Tuesday, I thought we should find out how far we can go with that diamond system."

(Overall thoughts...) "It was a great result to come here and win 3-0 against a very powerful and aggressive Newcastle team. You have to really perform and make sure you keep control of the game and I think we did that for most of the time. We were terrific in the second half against Tottenham, it was an absolutely brilliant performance but the first half spoiled the whole day. Whereas today we were really on top of our game in terms of concentration, determination and all of the things you want to see in a team that is going to win. I think concentration is important at this level and we concentrated on the way we played in the first 20 minutes. It’s strange that we played so much good football and made good openings, but we scored from two setpieces which is unusual for us. Patrice Evra has only scored four goals and I think Jonny Evans has only got two goals. But you take it because winning these games is important and all in all, I thought the football was really good and the concentration was terrific and the determination was there. I think there was pressure [on us] because you don’t want to fall too far behind. If we hadn’t won today we would have been seven points behind Chelsea. We are in the frame and we are still there. Obviously, every game is important now because we want to stay up there and hopefully we can do that."

(On whether Papiss Cisse's attempt crossed the line...) "I had a look at it and the replay is inconclusive. The whole ball was not over the line but I would be disappointed if we didn’t get the goal ourselves if we were in that situation. Our goalkeeper has done fantastically to get to it, but if the rule is that the whole ball has to be over the line then it is not a goal. I would have been disappointed though because I thought enough of the ball was over."

(On whether Cleverley meant to shoot or cross on his goal...) "I think it was a cross but he says it was a shot!"

Tom Cleverley | MUFC midfielder (courtesy of MUTV & Sky Sports)

(On whether he meant to shoot or cross on his goal...) "Yeah, I meant to put it in that far corner. I looked to the far corner and, whether it's a good cross or obviously a good finish, luckily it's found the net. The ball's come back and I've seen the goalkeeper a little bit off his line so I've hit that area. Whether Welbz [Danny Welbeck] gets across and puts his head on it or the ball goes straight in, so I'd say it's a good finish."

(Overall thoughts...) "We all knew it was going to be a tough game. Starting like we did was fantastic for us – not just the goals but we were playing really well. I think it took them 20 minutes to cope with us and we were 2-0 up by then and in control. We hit them on the counter-attack times and I thought we really controlled the second half. Away from home, any clean sheet is massive. Despite all the balls Newcastle put into the box, the back four and keeper were fantastic and fully deserved the clean sheet. We know we've got goals in the team and we've got players who can assist goals from everywhere. Welbz and Wazza [Wayne Rooney] were two of our main goalscorers last season and they've not scored yet so, when everyone clicks, I'm sure we can go on a run."

(On the midfield diamnond...) "We played it [the midfield diamond] against Newcastle in the Cup and Cluj and have won all three games. It's a good system and something else we can use against teams. We've got plenty of plan Bs and plan Cs."

(On his recent goalscoring...) "My two goals have both come against Newcastle but, in general, I think I'm getting into goalscoring positions now. At the start of the season, it just wasn't going in. I had one cleared off the line at Everton and for England so, fortunately, I'm finding the back of the net now and hopefully I can go on a run."

(On getting the full three points prior to the international break...) "We said last time [there was an international break] when we managed to win at Southampton that it would've been horrible having no game for two weeks and having a defeat. With all our main competitors winning, we really had to get the three points and thankfully we did."

Wayne Rooney | MUFC attacker (courtesy of ManUtd.com)

(On not having scored yet this season...) "As long as we keep winning, I’m not concerned. If it comes, it comes. We’ve got other players who can score goals for us."

(Overall thoughts...) "It was a great result for us. Everyone knows it’s one of the hardest games of the season – Newcastle away – but we came here and defended brilliantly, scored three goals and, overall, fully deserved the victory."

(On improving defensively...) "We didn't defend well enough in the first few league games – not just the back four but the whole team. But today, we were brilliant. They are a really big team, a physical team, so we knew we had to defend our box really well. We managed to do that. There was a focus about us today and we need to do that for the rest of the season if we’re going to be successful. I was involved in the game, the whole game. I’m not one who won’t put the work in and I will do my best for the team. That’s all I can do."

Jonny Evans | MUFC defender (courtesy of MUTV)

(On his goal...) "As a defender, you want clean sheets but scoring a goal put a bit of gloss on my own performance so it was nice to chip in. As soon as I made a connection with it I thought it was going in, so I was delighted with that and hopefully I can add a few more."

(Overall thoughts...) "You could see by the way that we started that we wanted to come out and put on a good performance. I think the main thing was that we defended and attacked as a team. We were a real unit out there and we made it hard for a good Newcastle side. They had big powerful lads with good goal scoring records, especially up at the Sports Direct Arena. We knew we were in for a hard game but we were up for the challenge and thankfully we were able to keep a clean sheet. We were seven points behind Chelsea (before the game) so it was a big gap and if we had dropped points it would have been a big task. Although it is still early on in the season, you don’t want to give a team that kind of advantage so early on."

(On Cleverley's curler...) "There is no way he meant that. To try and shoot from there, especially to bend it, he definitely didn’t mean it. I think he was looking for Robin van Persie at the back post but it went in. But that was a really important time for us to score a goal because they kept pumping the ball in the box and were getting one or two chances. It was important for us to get the 3-0 lead."