ManU Away – Old Trafford and Tourists 8pm on Boxing Day

Blagged some corporate tickets for this one so had to go. The tram was packed 3 hours before kick off with Chinese, Japanese and Eastern Europeans who then blocked the station exit all needing their selfie at the Old Trafford tram station sign. There wasn’t a soul or even a steward or police present at the away end as we walked past.

Sort of bumbed in to Roy Keane – but was too scared to say anything…. Street food style and bar a bit like Barracks. Excellent seats at back of lower tear right on the half way line. Cheers Tom!

The Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford took place on 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day).

Final Score

• Manchester United 1–0 Newcastle United  

Scorer

• 24’ – Patrick Dorgu (Manchester United) – a powerful volley from around 15 yards after a partially cleared long throw into the Newcastle box. It was Dorgu’s first goal for Manchester United.  

How the Game Played Out

First Half

• Manchester United started brightly despite missing several key players through injury and international duty.  
• The decisive moment came in the 24th minute when Patrick Dorgu struck a superb volley following a long throw-in that Newcastle failed to clear.  
• United created a few more chances on the counterattack before halftime, while Newcastle struggled to convert their early possession into clear opportunities.

Second Half

• Newcastle dominated much of the second half and pushed hard for an equaliser.  
• The Magpies created several chances, including:
  
  • efforts from Anthony Gordon, Lewis Miley, and Joe Willock
  • at least one attempt hitting the woodwork.  
• Manchester United defended deeply and relied on counterattacks, nearly doubling their lead when Benjamin Šeško hit the crossbar and Diogo Dalot missed another chance.  

Atmosphere & Context

• The match had a big Boxing Day crowd of nearly 74,000.  
• Despite being under heavy pressure in the second half, United held on for the clean sheet.
• The win moved Manchester United up to fifth in the Premier League table at that point in the season.  

✅ Summary:

Manchester United took the lead through Patrick Dorgu’s spectacular volley in the first half and then spent much of the second half defending as Newcastle pressed for an equaliser. Despite several chances for the visitors, United held firm to secure a 1–0 victory at Old Trafford.

Starting Line-ups

Manchester United

Formation: 4-2-3-1

• GK: Senne Lammens
• RB: Diogo Dalot
• CB: Ayden Heaven
• CB: Lisandro Martínez (captain)
• LB: Luke Shaw
• CM: Casemiro
• CM: Manuel Ugarte
• RW: Patrick Dorgu ⚽ 24’
• AM: Mason Mount
• LW: Matheus Cunha
• ST: Benjamin Šeško

Substitutes used

• Jack Fletcher (45’)
• Leny Yoro (61’)
• Joshua Zirkzee (60’)
• Tyrell Malacia (88’)
• Tyler Fredricson (88’)

Newcastle United

Formation: 4-3-3

• GK: Aaron Ramsdale
• RB: Lewis Miley
• CB: Fabian Schär
• CB: Malick Thiaw
• LB: Lewis Hall
• CM: Bruno Guimarães (captain)
• CM: Sandro Tonali
• CM: Jacob Ramsey
• RW: Jacob Murphy
• ST: Nick Woltemade
• LW: Anthony Gordon

Substitutes used

• Yoane Wissa (68’)
• Joelinton (68’)
• Harvey Barnes (68’)
• Joe Willock (77’)

Key Match Statistics

Expected Goals (xG)

• Man United: ~1.18
• Newcastle: ~1.17  

Key Takeaways from the Stats

• Newcastle dominated possession and territory but struggled to convert chances.
• Manchester United were more direct and clinical, scoring from one of their best opportunities.
• Newcastle’s 11 corners and 16 shots show how much pressure they applied late in the game.
• Defensive performances from Lisandro Martínez and Ayden Heaven were crucial to the clean sheet.   

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Toon in the Champions League – PSG Away

Another trip to this dump… but stayed in a much nicer part of Paris near the Bastille. Pub HQ was “The Pub” run by a Pompey fan in his teams shirt with special sausage rolls and Broon Ale in stock!

A bit like a home game, getting the train from Moûtiers to Paris…

The Paris Saint‑Germain vs Newcastle United match in the UEFA Champions League league phase took place on 28 January 2026 at the Parc des Princes in Paris. It ended in a 1–1 draw. 

Match Summary

• Final score: PSG 1–1 Newcastle
• Attendance: about 47,600
• Possession: PSG dominated with roughly 67%, while Newcastle played more on the counterattack.  

Goals

• 8’ – PSG: Vitinha
  
  • PSG took an early lead when Vitinha finished a move in the opening minutes, giving the home side momentum.  
• 45+2’ – Newcastle: Joe Willock
  
  • Newcastle equalised just before halftime, with Willock scoring his first goal in nearly a year to level the match.  

How the Game Played Out

• PSG started strongly and controlled possession early, creating several chances and taking the lead through Vitinha.
• Newcastle gradually grew into the match, defending compactly and threatening on the break.
• Willock’s stoppage-time goal before halftime shifted the momentum.
• In the second half PSG pushed hard for a winner, registering more shots and territory, but Newcastle’s defence and goalkeeper held firm.
• PSG also missed a chance to win when Ousmane Dembélé had a penalty saved, which proved decisive.  

Outcome and Significance

• The 1–1 draw meant both teams missed out on the top-eight places in the league phase and had to go into the Champions League playoff round instead of qualifying directly for the round of 16.  

✅ Key takeaway: Newcastle earned a respectable draw away in Paris despite PSG dominating possession and chances, thanks to disciplined defending and Willock’s crucial equaliser.

Atmosphere and Away Support – PSG vs Newcastle (Paris, Jan 2026)

The atmosphere at the Paris Saint‑Germain vs Newcastle United match at the Parc des Princes was widely described as intense and very “European”, especially because the match effectively decided who would finish in the Champions League top eight. 

Newcastle Away Fans

• Around 2,000 Newcastle supporters were in the away section in Paris.  
• The away end was very vocal throughout the match, particularly after Newcastle equalised just before halftime.
• As often happens with Newcastle’s travelling support in Europe, they were reported to be singing continuously despite PSG dominating possession.

Inside the Stadium

• The match had a big-game Champions League feel, with PSG ultras creating a loud tifo display before kickoff and during the Champions League anthem.
• PSG started fast, and the stadium erupted when Vitinha scored early, but the mood changed dramatically when Newcastle equalised through Joe Willock in stoppage time of the first half.  

Second-Half Tension

• PSG pushed hard for a winner and had most of the ball and chances.
• The crowd grew tense and frustrated as the Paris side missed opportunities, including an earlier penalty saved by Nick Pope.  
• By the final minutes the atmosphere was nervous rather than celebratory, as PSG realised the draw would likely drop them out of the automatic qualification spots.

At Full Time

• The 1–1 draw left both clubs outside the top eight in the league phase, meaning they had to enter the Champions League playoff round.  
• Newcastle’s players applauded the away section at full time, while PSG fans reacted with frustration because the result cost them automatic progression.

✅ Overall:

• Loud, hostile, classic European atmosphere.
• Newcastle fans small in number but very audible.
• PSG crowd went from early excitement → tension → frustration by the end.

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Toon in the Champions League – Bayer Leverkusen away

From Geneva to Cologne via Munich…

The Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United (UEFA Champions League match, 10 Dec 2025) was a dramatic 2–2 draw played at the BayArena in Leverkusen during the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. It was memorable mainly because Newcastle thought they had won it before conceding a very late equaliser. 

Final score

• Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2 – 2 Newcastle United  

Scorers

• 13’ – Own goal by Bruno Guimarães (Leverkusen lead 1–0)
• 51’ – Anthony Gordon (penalty) for Newcastle
• 74’ – Lewis Miley header for Newcastle
• 88’ – Álex Grimaldo equaliser for Leverkusen  

How the game went

First half

• Leverkusen started strongly and took the lead after about 13 minutes when a corner led to a Bruno Guimarães own goal, putting Newcastle behind early.  
• The German side controlled much of the first half, with Newcastle struggling to create clear chances before the break.

Second half

• Newcastle improved dramatically after halftime.
• Anthony Gordon equalised from the penalty spot in the 51st minute after pressure on the Leverkusen defence.  
• The momentum swung Newcastle’s way, and Lewis Miley headed them into the lead in the 74th minute from a Gordon cross.  
• Newcastle also hit the woodwork and had several chances to seal the match.  

Late drama

• With Newcastle seemingly heading for a big away win, Leverkusen struck back.
• In the 88th minute, Álex Grimaldo finished a flowing move to make it 2–2, denying Newcastle victory right at the end.  

Atmosphere

• The match was played in front of about 30,000 fans at BayArena, creating a loud European-night atmosphere.  
• The travelling Newcastle supporters were in full voice, especially after Miley’s goal put them ahead late on.
• Reports described them as already celebrating what looked like a famous away win before Grimaldo’s last-minute equaliser stunned the away end.  

✅ Overall:

• A high-energy Champions League match with a big momentum swing.
• Newcastle produced an impressive comeback but were denied in the final minutes, leaving both teams with a point.

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Toon back in the Champions League – Union SG in Brussels

A Eurostar away trip staying in the Pullman at Brussels station – not a dodgy council estate…

The Union Saint‑Gilloise vs Newcastle United match in the UEFA Champions League league phase was played on 1 October 2025 in Brussels (at Lotto Park). Newcastle produced a dominant away performance. 

Final Score

• Union Saint-Gilloise 0 – 4 Newcastle United  

Goalscorers

1. 17’ – Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
   
   • Opened the scoring with a deflection from a powerful shot by Sandro Tonali.  
3. 43’ – Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, penalty)
   
   • Penalty awarded after Anthony Elanga was fouled in the box.  
5. 64’ – Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, penalty)
   
   • Second penalty after a VAR review for handball.  
7. 80’ – Harvey Barnes (Newcastle)
   
   • Finished a fast counter-attack to seal the win.  

How the Game Went

• Newcastle took control early and scored in the 17th minute through Woltemade.
• They doubled the lead just before halftime when Gordon converted a penalty.
• Union SG had some chances and managed 17 shots but couldn’t score, with Newcastle defending solidly.  
• Gordon added another penalty after the break to make it 3–0, effectively ending the contest.
• Substitute Barnes scored late on a counter-attack to complete a convincing 4–0 victory, Newcastle’s biggest Champions League win.  

✅ Summary: Newcastle dominated the match in Brussels, scoring twice from penalties and controlling the game comfortably to record a 4–0 away win.

Newcastle Fans in Brussels

• The official away allocation was about 1,058 tickets.  

• However, because Brussels is easy to reach from the UK, it was estimated that 1,500+ Newcastle fans travelled to the city.  

• Many supporters who didn’t have tickets still came for the trip and watched the match in bars in the city centre.

Where Fans Gathered

• Police and supporter groups directed fans to gather in the La Bourse / city-centre area of Brussels before the game.  

• That area is full of bars and cafés, and it effectively became a Newcastle fan zone throughout the afternoon.

Stadium and Atmosphere

• The match was played at Lotto Park, home of R.S.C. Anderlecht.

• Union SG’s usual ground, Stade Joseph Marien, was too small to host Champions League games, so the fixture was moved there.  

Inside the stadium:

• Newcastle supporters were placed behind the goal in the away section.  

• The away end is steep and close to the pitch, which meant the travelling fans created a very loud atmosphere despite the relatively small allocation.

Overall Atmosphere

• Thousands of Geordie fans filled central Brussels hours before kick-off, singing and gathering in bars.

• After the 4–0 Newcastle win, the away section stayed loud well after the final whistle as fans celebrated one of the club’s biggest Champions League away victories.  

✅ In short:

• Around 1,500 Newcastle fans travelled.

• ~1,058 were inside the stadium, with others in the city.

• The atmosphere was lively in central Brussels and loud in the away end, especially after the convincing 4-0 victory.

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England v Senegal – Friendly in Nottingham

An excuse to meet up with the Leicester and Derby lads for a nice spot of lunch. There’s a train back as far as Sheffield after 11pm so some of us can get partially home after the game…

Quick Recap

• On 10th June 2025, England played Senegal in a friendly at The City Ground in Nottingham.
• Senegal won 3–1.

Crowd

• 26,322 fans turned up.  
• It was the first time England’s men played at the City Ground since 1941.  

Goals

• England: Harry Kane (7′)  
• Senegal:
  
  • Ismaïla Sarr (40′)  
  • Habib Diarra (62′)  
  • Cheikh Sabaly (90+3′)  

Why It Was Big

• This was the first-ever win by an African team against England.  
• England were using this as prep for the 2026 World Cup.

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